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.
A suspected Hamas terrorist appeared with a knife Thursday at the grounds of the music festival in southern Israel where hundreds of concertgoers were killed by Hamas this weekend.
Israeli soldiers immediately took down the suspect and took him into custody.
Israeli soldiers surround a Palestinian who ran at them with a knife at the site of a music festival near the border with the Gaza Strip, Oct. 12, 2023.
Erik Marmor/AP
Oct 12, 2023, 11:03 AM EDT
American survivor shares her story with Blinken
Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday visited an Israel donation center, where he was greeted by applause and cries of “God bless America.”
Blinken dropped off his own contribution to benefit survivors who have lost everything.
He then spoke to Lior Gelbaum, a 24-year-old American-Israeli dual citizen, who was attending the music festival that was attacked by Hamas.
Through tears, she told Blinken that many of her friends were killed or taken hostage.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks with people as he visits a donation center for victims of the Hamas terror attacks, Oct. 12, 2023, in Tel Aviv.
Jacquelyn Martin/AP
"Thank you for being here. It’s really important," she said. "And if there is any way to help -- first priority, first priority is our friends and family that are still in Gaza."
"We're thinking of them and trying to do everything we can. We want to bring them home," Blinken responded. "I admire your strength."
Another volunteer told Blinken he had just come from the fourth funeral of a friend who lost a child. The volunteer said all of the mourners had expressed that after concluding their mourning period, they would rebuild the country.
-ABC News' Shannon Crawford
Oct 12, 2023, 10:47 AM EDT
Empire State Building will light up for Israel
New York City's Empire State Building will shine blue and white lights in honor of Israel from 10 p.m. local time Friday until sunrise on Saturday.
The Empire State Building's lights usually extinguish at 2 a.m. local time, but they will be extended in this case so people in Israel can see in real-time.
Oct 12, 2023, 9:27 AM EDT
Emirates suspends flights to and from Tel Aviv
Emirates announced it will suspend flights to and from Tel Aviv through Oct. 20.
The airline also said customers with onward connections to Tel Aviv will not be accepted for travel at their point of origin until further notice.