V Times of Israel:
Some #hostages rescued in southern #Israel following unprecedented #Hamas assault

#IDF hits Hamas targets in #Gaza ; #rocket hits #Ashkelon hospital; relatives of missing persons rush to help with identification; forces take control of #Sderot police station
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-october-8-2023/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

What could happen next?
By Yolande Knell, #BBC #MENA correspondent in #Jerusalem
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-middle-east-67037895?ns_mchannel=social&ns_source=twitter&ns_campaign=bbc_live&ns_linkname=6522195cf34eee40bb92ae8e%26What%20could%20happen%20next%3F%262023-10-08T08%3A17%3A04.851Z&ns_fee=0&pinned_post_locator=urn:asset:58b41f7a-7d2c-4acb-b9b0-386816377b09&pinned_post_asset_id=6522195cf34eee40bb92ae8e&pinned_post_type=share

#Israel undoubtedly sees the potential for a war that could open up on multiple fronts. A worst-case scenario is that it could draw in the powerful #Lebanese militant group, #Hezbollah .

Meanwhile, the Israeli military has ordered a massive reinforcement of troops. As well as its intense air raids on #Gaza, it has indicated that it is planning a ground operation there .

'Safe recovery of #hostages may call for ground operation'
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-middle-east-67037895?ns_mchannel=social&ns_source=twitter&ns_campaign=bbc_live&ns_linkname=65225b4102d73c280f4a91e6%26Safe%20recovery%20of%20hostages%20may%20call%20for%20ground%20operation%262023-10-08T07%3A48%3A03.196Z&ns_fee=0&pinned_post_locator=urn:asset:e08fec38-d5a2-4f48-b88b-1bb10618427b&pinned_post_asset_id=65225b4102d73c280f4a91e6&pinned_post_type=share
'Overnight, #Israelis have been watching social media posts of civilians dragged out of their homes at gunpoint, shipped into #Gaza and often humiliated on camera.

That is a searing shock to the country. The safety and recovery of those hostages will be at the forefront of everyone's minds.'

The Israeli military is mobilising thousands of infrantry and tanks are being brought on the road to Gaza.
#hamas #IDF

V WSJ:
#Israel Asks #Egypt to Help Negotiate Release of Israelis, say Egyptian Officials

https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/israel-hamas-gaza-rockets-attack-palestinians/card/israel-asks-egypt-to-help-negotiate-release-of-israelis-say-egyptian-officials-4mGrUhbvOSbN1tPVInmC
#hamas #Gaza

V Times of #Israel :
The #Israeli military says it is evacuating civilians from towns adjacent to the border with the #Gaza Strip at this stage.

The towns include #Nahal Oz, #Erez, #Nir Am, #Mefalsim, #Kfar #Aza, #Gevim, #Or Haner, #Ibim, #Netiv Ha’asara, #Yad Mordechai, #Karmia, #Zikim, £Kerem Shalom, #Kissufim, #Holit, #Sufa, #Nirim, #Nir Oz, #Ein Hashlosha, #Nir Yitzhak, #Be’eri, #Magen, #Re’im, #Sa’ad and #Alumim

V Haaretz:
#Israel 's death toll reached 350

(Israeli TV has reported 400)

#Israeli Health Ministry reports 2048 injured - 20 critical, 330 serious, 396 moderate, 967 light injuries

V Times of #Israel :
The security cabinet voted last night to put the country officially at war, and it can carry out “significant military activities,” the PM Office announces.

#Netanyahu had already said the country was at war.

The security cabinet decision gives the declaration legal standing in keeping with Basic Law: The Government, which in its Clause 40 says that the country cannot go to war without a government decision.

The #Iranian president has spoken with the leader of #Palestinian militant groups #Hamas and Islamic Jihad ( #PIJ ) after the latest developments, state media in #Iran reports.

Details of Ebrahim #Raisi 's conversations with the two men were not disclosed.

Hamas is backed by Iran, which funds it and provides weapons and training.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-middle-east-67037895?ns_mchannel=social&ns_source=twitter&ns_campaign=bbc_live&ns_linkname=6522a5d83fc96e28602bfe31%26Iranian%20president%20in%20touch%20with%20militant%20leaders%262023-10-08T12%3A53%3A12.235Z&ns_fee=0&pinned_post_locator=urn:asset:487bc676-9377-4fb9-827b-203ba0027980&pinned_post_asset_id=6522a5d83fc96e28602bfe31&pinned_post_type=share

V Times of #Israel :

More restrictions introduced - #IDF announces schools to remain closed, as the Home Front Command extends existing restrictions.

businesses south of #Netanya and north of the central #Negev can only be opened if there is ready access to bomb shelters, the military says.

Gatherings are restricted to 10 people outdoors and 50 people indoors in those areas.

The restrictions are valid till Tuesday at 6 p.m
#hamas

More than 600 Israelis have been killed since Saturday, according to a Facebook post from the press office of #Israel 's government.

It adds that more than 100 people have been kidnapped, and more than 2,000 injured.

In #Gaza, at least 370 people have been killed following Israeli air strikes and 2200 injured, according to #Palestinian officials.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-middle-east-67037895?ns_mchannel=social&ns_source=twitter&ns_campaign=bbc_live&ns_linkname=6522a7033fc96e28602bfe36%26More%20than%20600%20Israelis%20killed%20and%20100%20kidnapped%20-%20government%262023-10-08T13%3A29%3A46.452Z&ns_fee=0&pinned_post_locator=urn:asset:5c98a9ef-6562-4096-bc37-36100c6ca549&pinned_post_asset_id=6522a7033fc96e28602bfe36&pinned_post_type=share

Secretary of State Anthony #Blinken told CNN the #US government has received reports that several Americans have died in #Israel - and that officials are trying to verify those reports.

The US is "likely" to give details on new military assistance for Israel later today, he says. "Our first focus is to make sure Israel has what it needs."

A rally has taken place in #Beirut #Lebanon which saw people wave #Palestinian and #Hezbollah flags, followed Hezbollah’s limited artillery and missile strikes this morning on #Israeli positions.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-middle-east-67037895?ns_mchannel=social&ns_source=twitter&ns_campaign=bbc_live&ns_linkname=6522aaf302d73c280f4a9324%26Pro-Gaza%20rally%20held%20in%20Beirut%262023-10-08T13%3A20%3A01.262Z&ns_fee=0&pinned_post_locator=urn:asset:a6f57c68-a35c-4deb-a821-0f78d610001d&pinned_post_asset_id=6522aaf302d73c280f4a9324&pinned_post_type=share

#BBC Yolande Knell reports from #Ashkelon:
'The hospital here has treated over 400 people injured in this huge assault: soldiers from military bases that were overrun, partygoers from a rave in the fields next to #Gaza , and locals injured when their homes were hit by #rockets

There are reminders that the fighting still continues with booms overhead as the Iron Dome missile defence system intercepts incoming rocket fire

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-middle-east-67037895?ns_mchannel=social&ns_source=twitter&ns_campaign=bbc_live&ns_linkname=6522ac6c3fc96e28602bfe5d%26Hospitals%20treat%20hundreds%20as%20fighting%20continues%262023-10-08T13%3A53%3A46.722Z&ns_fee=0&pinned_post_locator=urn:asset:04adb7af-8b04-41f9-990f-21dd5627c257&pinned_post_asset_id=6522ac6c3fc96e28602bfe5d&pinned_post_type=share
#Israel #hamas

On the hostages, v ToI:
WSJ cites #Egyptian officials saying that their negotiators “failed to convince the #Palestinian factions to release injured #Israeli captives.”

Earlier the newspaper reported that #Israel had reached out to #Cairo to request its intervention.
#hamas #Gaza

V Haaretz:
#Israeli PM office says #Netanyahu held discussions on Sunday with German Chancellor Olaf #Scholz , Ukrainian President Volodymyr #Zelensky , Italian Prime Minister Giorgia #Meloni , and British Prime Minister Rishi #Sunak

According to the statement, "the leaders expressed unwavering support for Israel's right to self-defense as needed."
#hamas #Gaza

#Germany increases protection of #Israeli , #Jewish institutions

https://www.reuters.com/world/germany-hikes-protection-israeli-jewish-institutions-scholz-2023-10-08/

V AFP:
#Jews In #France Fear Reprisals From #Israel - #Hamas War

https://www.barrons.com/news/jews-in-france-fear-reprisals-from-israel-hamas-war-86d3c224

#BBC live page:
It's approaching midnight in #Israel , where the overall death toll following attacks from #Hamas militants has passed 600 - although some some reports say the number is even higher.

In the #Gaza Strip, more than 400 people have been killed in retaliatory #Israeli strikes.

Here's the latest top lines:

More than 250 bodies have been removed from the site of a music #festival in southern Israel which came under attack, according to search and rescue organisation Zaka

Here are some of the graphic testimonies of those who survived the festival shooting:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-67047034

And here is Gili Yoskovich' story:
'They were going tree by tree and shooting'
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-67044787
#Israel #hamas #Gaza

Latest #IDF update:
more than 700 #Israelis have been killed since Saturday morning and 2,150 have been injured.

According to the IDF, 3,284 rockets have been fired from the #Gaza Strip (Hamas says the number is more than 5,000) and Israel has struck 653 #Hamas targets.