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.
London sees rise in antisemitism, police up patrols
Police in London are upping patrols amid a rise in antisemitism following the Hamas terror attack, the Metropolitan Police said.
"Officers have visited more than 200 schools as well as more than 300 synagogues, mosques and other places of worship," police said. "Some of our communities are telling us they feel very vulnerable and we are working with their leaders, faith groups and others to reassure them and ensure they feel safe."
Police said they're expecting thousands of people to participate in a pro-Palestine march in London on Saturday.
Oct 13, 2023, 10:45 AM EDT
Fighting ongoing near Lebanon border
Fighting is ongoing in northern Israel near the Lebanon border, where huge plumes of smoke are visible.
The Israel Defense Forces said there was an explosion Friday at the security fence adjacent to Hanita, Israel, which is along the border. The IDF said it's responding with artillery fire toward Lebanon.
"Additionally, an alert was activated concerning the infiltration of terrorists into the community," the IDF said, and Israeli "soldiers are currently searching the area."
Oct 13, 2023, 10:13 AM EDT
Hamas using roofs of residential buildings to launch drones: IDF
The Israel Defense Forces said Hamas is using roofs of residential buildings in Gaza to launch its hostile unmanned aerial vehicles.
Israeli planes have targeted dozens of these launch sites, the IDF said.
"This is further proof Hamas deliberately uses civilian building for military purposes," the IDF said. "The IDF will continue to operate in order to destroy Hamas' hostile UAV capabilities."
Oct 13, 2023, 9:39 AM EDT
Gaza evacuation: 'Those who want to save their life, please go south'
In his first on-camera comments about Israel’s evacuation request for northern Gaza, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant urged Gaza residents to head south. He noted that Hamas will use them as "camouflage," “therefore we need to separate them."
"Those who want to save their life, please go south. We are going to destroy Hamas infrastructures, Hamas headquarters, Hamas military," he said.
Smoke plumes billow during Israeli air strikes in Gaza City on Oct. 12, 2023.
MAHMUD HAMS/AFP via Getty Images
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who appeared at the press conference with Gallant, dodged ABC News' question about how Israel could end the Hamas terror threat without inevitably risking civilian lives. Austin called Israel's military "professional" and "disciplined."
Austin described how ISIS had also embedded themselves in civilian populations and how the anti-ISIS coalition "protected civilians and created corridors for humanitarian movement even in the midst of a pretty significant fight. So again, this is a professional force. It is well led, and I have every expectation that it will be disciplined."
A Palestinian man rushes past rubble carrying a child in his arms, following an Israeli military strike in Gaza City, Oct. 12, 2023.
BASHAR TALEB/AFP via Getty Images
Austin added, "I would tell you that in countering ISIS, I felt as if we were staring evil in the eye, it was truly evil. And what we've seen from Hamas, it takes that evil to another level."
4:59
Israel orders evacuation of Northern Gaza
As the bombing of Gaza continues, Israel is calling on hundreds of thousands of people to leave their homes amid fear of an imminent land operation.
