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.
What are the rules of war? And how do they apply to Israel's actions in Gaza?
Six days after a brutal attack by armed Hamas militants on Israeli civilians, Israel ordered an evacuation of more than 1 million Palestinians in northern Gaza ahead of what could be an unprecedented ground offensive there against Hamas.
The U.S. and other nations have repeatedly warned Israel to follow the "rules of war."
But what are they? And will they prevent civilians from being hurt?
Here's what to know about international humanitarian laws and how they might apply in the Israeli-Hamas conflict in Gaza.
Citizens inspect damage to their homes caused by Israeli airstrikes, Oct. 13, 2023 in Gaza City, Gaza.
Ahmad Hasaballah/Getty Images
-ABC News' Anne Flaherty
Oct 13, 2023, 6:57 PM EDT
20K US citizens contact State Dept. for help amid conflict: Officials
As the Biden administration intensifies efforts to help American nationals leave Israel and Gaza, more than 20,000 U.S. citizens have reached out to the State Department asking for help in the wake of the Hamas attacks, including several hundred seeking to leave Gaza, according to two U.S. officials.
While not all have actively sought assistance with transportation, "many thousands" across Israel have indicated they needed help finding flights out of the country, the officials said.
Government-chartered planes have now started to ferry U.S. citizens from Israel to other countries in the region, though one official said the State Department still cannot share a detailed breakdown on the number of Americans whose departure it has already facilitated or the number of Americans still waiting for help "given this is an unfolding situation."
Citizens inspect damage to their homes caused by Israeli airstrikes, Oct. 13, 2023 in Gaza City, Gaza.
Ahmad Hasaballah/Getty Images
For Americans in Gaza, the U.S. is still eyeing the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt as a means of safe passage. Officials say they are very hopeful they will be able to work with Israel and Egypt to establish a corridor for U.S. citizens and other foreign nationals, but that it could take days to make substantial progress.
The Israeli government estimated that between 100 to 130 Americans were living in Gaza earlier this year. An official says the State Department believes hundreds more are visiting -- putting the total number in Gaza potentially between 500 and 600.
The State Department estimates that roughly 500,000 American citizens reside in Israel.
-ABC News' Shannon K. Crawford
Oct 13, 2023, 6:35 PM EDT
Biden speaks about his call with families of missing Americans
President Joe Biden on Friday spoke briefly about his phone call with family members of missing Americans.
President Joe Biden along with White House Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa, Brett McGurk and National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan speaks with families of Americans who were living in Israel from the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, Oct. 13, 2023.
Handout/The White House
"We're working around the clock to secure the release of Americans held by Hamas," Biden said.
"They're going through agony not knowing what the status of their sons, daughters, husbands, wives, children are," Biden said. "It's gut-wrenching. I assured them my personal commitment to do everything possible, everything possible, to return every missing American to their families."
11:27
Biden talks economics and Israel in Philadelphia
President Joe Biden said "The United States stands with Israel" and will make sure Israel has what it needs to defend itself.
-ABC News' Molly Nagle
Oct 13, 2023, 6:32 PM EDT
UNICEF calls for immediate humanitarian pause in Gaza
UNICEF on Friday urged Israel to rescind its call for a mass evacuation of northern Gaza, saying there needs to be an immediate humanitarian pause to "scale and sustain lifesaving services for children."
"The situation is catastrophic, with unrelenting bombing and a massive increase in the displacement of children and families. There are no safe places," UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said in a statement. "An immediate ceasefire and humanitarian access are the top priorities to allow much needed aid to children and families in Gaza."
A Palestinian child watches as smoke billows on the horizon after an Israeli air strike in Gaza City on Oct. 13, 2023. Israel has called for the immediate relocation of 1.1 million people in Gaza amid its massive bombardment in retaliation for Hamas's attacks, with the United Nations warning of "devastating" consequences.
Mohammed Abed/AFP via Getty Images
"There are rules of war," the statement continued. "Children in Gaza need lifesaving support and every minute counts.”
UNICEF said the situation is becoming "increasingly difficult and dangerous" and humanitarians have been warned to leave Gaza City, but that it will stay to provide support for children in need.