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Updates continue to arrive thick and fast – so if you’re just joining us, or need a recap, here’s what we’ve been reporting in the last few hours:
Whole families killed in Israeli village: Details of a massacre – said by the Israel Defense Forces to have been committed by Hamas – were revealed today after reporters visited the village of Kfar Aza near the Gaza border. Soldiers say Hamas stormed in, burnt homes and killed entire families – including babies – with an Israeli officer describing how some had been beheaded.
Israeli anger at the military: The BBC’s Jeremy Bowen provided some on-the-ground analysis from that same community, in which he described how “the horror and rage of Israelis has been mixed with incredulity that the state and the military failed in its fundamental duty to protect its citizens”. He also said no-one imagined Hamas would be able to breach Israel’s defences and kill so many people.
Biden condemns “blood-thirsty” Hamas: At a White House press conference, US President Joe Biden said Hamas “did not stand for the Palestinian people” and accused it instead of using Palestinians “as human shields”. He also pledged that the US “has Israel’s back” and said he’ll ensure it can defend itself.
Hamas confirms deaths of two officials: Zakaria Abu Muammar and Jawad Abu Shamal, members of the Hamas political bureau, have been confirmed dead by the Palestinian militant group. They are reported to have died after a raid in Khan Yunis early this morning.
Heavy bombing of Gaza continues: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) says it will continue to attack Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip. The latest death toll there is now more than 900, with reports of “terrifying explosions” from the BBC’s Rushdi Abu Alouf. Meanwhile, the toll on the Israeli side is more than 1,000.
