alestinians are facing a race to escape to safety as Israel’s deadline for them to leave the combat zone passes.
Familes in cars, carts and on foot have been fleeing after warnings that they would be in the firing line in any Israel full scale onslaught on the ground into Gaza.
Hamas has claimed 70 people have been killed in a fleeing convoy already and have been urging citizens to remain in their homes.
Civilians were given until 2pm (UK time) to move although with hundreds of thousands expected to heed the advice as up to 300,000 Israeli soldiers have massed on the border.
Meanwhile, the Hamas commander, Ali Qadhi, who led the cross-border attack on Israeli settlements that resulted in the deaths of hundreds of civilians has been killed by a drone strike, Israel’s air force said.
The IDF has said that over 120 civilians are still being held captive in the Gaza Strip by Hamas militants.
It is thought that the airstrikes on Gaza have killed at least 2,215 people and displaced a further 330,000, the Palestinian Health Authority has said – in Israel, an estimated 1,300 people have died. The Palestinian health authority has reported that 53 people have now died in the West Bank since last Saturday.
Live updates
‘At least 12 dead after convoy fleeing Gaza hit’
At least 12 people, including young children, have been killed after a convoy of vehicles heading toward southern Gaza was hit. The Palestinian Health Ministry has blamed Israel for the attack.
The Israel Defense Force (IDF) says it is investigating.
Two charter flights leave Israel in effort to help Britons leave the country
Two charter flights have now left Israel as efforts to help Britons leave the country continues, the Foreign Office has confirmed.
A Government spokesperson said: “Two flights facilitated by the UK Government have now departed Israel.
“Further flights are expected to leave in the coming days while commercial options are limited.”
China urges peace meeting in call to discuss Gaza crisis with US
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has spoken to Chinese counterpart Wang Yi to ask for Bejing’s help in working to contain the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Wang said Washington should “play a constructive and responsible role”, during the exchange.
He said: “When dealing with international hot-spot issues, major countries must adhere to objectivity and fairness, maintain calmness and restraint, and take the lead in abiding by international law,”
The Chinese foreign minister said Beijing has called for an “international peace meeting” as soon as possible.
Israel attacks locations in Lebanon
Israel has attacked locations in Lebanon following reports of multiple rocket launches from the south of the country.
Writing on X, formerly Twitter, the Israel Defence Forces spokesperson said: “Following the initial report of a number of launches from Lebanese territory towards the Mount Dov area, IDF forces are now attacking the source of the shooting.”
Missiles were fired at an Israeli army post in southeastern Lebanon, witnesses said. Heavy shelling from Israel and the sound of gunfire was also heard.
China’s Foreign Minister calls US Secretary of State on crisis in Israel and Gaza
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken by phone on Saturday on the crisis in Israel and Gaza, a statement from his ministry said.
“China calls for the convening of an international peace conference as soon as possible,” the statement read, while warning that “the Palestinian-Israel conflict is escalating and risks getting out of control”.
Wang told Blinken that “China opposes all acts that harm civilians and condemns practices that violate international law”.
The two also touched on US-China relations, the statement said, which Wang said were showing signs of stabilising.
Hamas says 9 captives including 4 foreigners killed in Israeli air strikes
Hamas said on Saturday that nine captives, including four foreigners, were killed following Israeli air strikes in Gaza over the past 24 hours.
A statement from Al Qassam Brigades on its Telegram channel said the captives were killed “because of the zionist bombardment on the areas they were staying in”.
The pro-Palestinian march set off from Portland Place just before 1pm.
Supporters let off red, green and black flares and chanted “Free, free Palestine”.
Several individuals jumped on top of a bus shelter on Regent Street before waving Palestinian flags.
Tensions briefly boiled over between a protester and a member of the public outside Hamley’s toy store on the street, with the former shouting angrily at the latter and calling him “a liar”.
Pro-Palestine activist says conflict is ‘entirely one-sided’
A supporter at the pro-Palestinian march in central London has said the Israel-Hamas conflict is “entirely one-sided”.
Speaking on Regent Street, Mike, 55, from north-west London, told the PA news agency: “The injustice of the situation is just totally outstanding.
“Gaza has been under siege for 17 years and the conflict is entirely one-sided, and yet the media are presenting it as though it’s some kind of equal struggle or that Israel’s response is a justified response to terrorism.
“(There was) not a single word about the terrorism of the Israeli state over the last few decades.”
Pro-Palestine protesters gather outside BBC HQ
Hundreds of protesters have gathered outside the BBC’s Broadcasting House in Portland Place ahead of a pro-Palestinian march in London.
Palestine flags and supportive placards were waved as people chanted, with Metropolitan Police and community support officers stationed nearby.
A cordon had been placed outside the main entrance to the BBC building after red paint was thrown at its entrance early on Saturday morning.
Counter-terror police review 55 cases of potential terrorist content online
Counter-terror police in the UK are reviewing 55 new cases of potential terrorist content online amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
The Metropolitan Police said there had been a “significant number” of reports from the public about potential terrorist content on the internet in the days since the Hamas attack last Saturday.
Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, urged people to report online content that appears to incite terrorist violence or activity.
He said: “When it comes to tackling the use of the internet to further terrorism, support from the public is essential.
“Following last week’s horrific terrorist attack by Hamas, and the escalation of the Israel-Hamas conflict, which has led to significant concern in communities in London and across the country, I want to thank the public for helping us by reporting potential terrorist content online to our Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit (CTIRU).
“These referrals have already made a significant impact and we are currently reviewing 55 cases.
