In Gaza, 3,000 people have been killed and another 12,500 were injured, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
Tensions are high with the prospect of ground war and evacuation orders for Gaza after the Israel Defense Forces called for "all residents of Gaza City to evacuate their homes" and "move south for their protection" early Friday, saying residents should move "and settle in the area south of the Gaza River." The announcement was made, according to the IDF, because it plans to "operate significantly in Gaza City in the coming days" and wanted "to avoid harming civilians."
Here's how the news is developing. All times Eastern.
Oct 16, 2023, 2:47 PM EDT
Timeline: The Hamas attack and response
On the morning of Oct. 7, sirens echoed across Israel as Hamas terrorists began a full-fledged surprise attack from the air, sea and ground. Hundreds of armed Hamas fighters stormed into Israel from Gaza, charging into cities and gunning down citizens.
Friends and family mourn Dor Reder, who was killed following a deadly infiltration by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip, at his funeral in Beit Kama, southern Israel, Oct. 16, 2023.
Violeta Santos Moura/Reuters
Israeli forces responded by sending wave after wave of bombs into Gaza, killing thousands, trapping civilians and raising fears of a wider conflict in the Middle East.
Hamas official claims they planned attack for 2 years: Report
A Hamas official in Lebanon claimed in an interview with Russian state media that the terrorist group planned Saturday's attack on Israel for two years.
The official, Ali Baraka, told the Russian state-controlled network RT in an interview posted earlier this week that Hamas prepared for the attack while Israel believed it was busy governing Gaza.
Oct 11, 2023, 6:17 PM EDT
State Department raises travel advisory level for Israel, West Bank
The State Department has raised its travel advisory level for Israel and the West Bank to "level 3 -- reconsider travel" due to terrorism and civil unrest.
"Terrorist groups, lone-actor terrorists and other violent extremists continue plotting possible attacks in Israel and the West Bank and Gaza," an alert from the department states. "Terrorists and violent extremists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, and local government facilities."
Both regions were previously at "level 2 -- exercise increased caution."
The advisory also adds increased restrictions for U.S. government employees, declaring they can only travel to Israel for "mission-critical travel."
Gaza remains at "level 4 -- do not travel."
-ABC News' Shannon K. Crawford
Oct 11, 2023, 6:05 PM EDT
Biden speaks with UAE President bin Zayed
President Joe Biden spoke with United Arab Emirates President Mohamed bin Zayed Wednesday to discuss the attacks in Israel, stressing his condemnation of Hamas’ brutality, according a White House readout of the call.
The two leaders also discussed ensuring humanitarian assistance for those in need and Biden's warnings against countries and organizations who may exploit the situation, according to the readout.
-ABC News' Justin Gomez
Oct 11, 2023, 4:55 PM EDT
Biden on hostages: 'Have not given up hope'
President Joe Biden said at a roundtable with Jewish leaders on Wednesday that the U.S. is "doing a lot" to rescue the Americans held hostage by Hamas.
"We're working on every aspect of the hostage crisis in Israel, including deploying experts to advise and assist with recovery efforts," he said. "I have not given up hope of bringing these folks home."
An IDF Soldier covers his nose while walking past Hamas militants and Israeli civilians who were killed days earlier in an attack by Hamas militants on this kibbutz near the border with Gaza, on Oct. 10, 2023 in Kfar Aza, Israel.
Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images
Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff also delivered remarks at the roundtable. Emhoff, the first Jewish spouse of a president or vice president, said, "Like all Jews, I feel a deep visceral connection to Israel and its people."
"We witnessed a mass murder of innocent civilians," he said. "The images that we saw will be seared in our brains forever. Rockets falling on cities, people dragged from their homes and shot dead, children sheltering from bullets, bodies lining the streets. And all the while, we see videos of these terrorists cheering on these atrocities. "
A bullet-shuttered window of the entrance to a kindergarten is seen in Kibbutz Be'eri, Oct. 11, 2023.
Baz Ratner/AP
"I know you're all hurting. The entire Jewish community is hurting, I'm hurting," he said.
12:34
Biden delivers remarks after roundtable with Jewish community leaders
President Joe Biden delivers remarks after joining a roundtable with Jewish community leaders at the White House.