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.
With 1 million people already displaced, Julia Touma, director of communications for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, said she's concerned that the conditions for Gaza residents will soon worsen.
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
"No humanitarian agency, including UNWRA, has been able to bring in any supplies for one week," she told ABC News Live on Saturday. "[There's] no drinking water and 2 million people are at the risk of dehydration. So it is very, very critical that humanitarian passage is given, that the siege on Gaza is lifted, so that organizations like my own, UNWRA, are able to deliver assistance."
"Time is running out. It's becoming a matter of life and death," she warned.
3:02
UN Communications Director Juliette Touma remarks on the Israel Hamas conflict
The director says that over 1 million people have been displaced in Gaza.
Oct 14, 2023, 10:58 AM EDT
Blinken meets with Saudi FM
As Secretary of State Antony Blinken continues his tour through the Middle East, there continues to be a disconnect between the U.S. stance and the stance of other nations more closely aligned with the Palestinians as they stop short of directly condemning Hamas.
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
“It’s a disturbing situation. It’s a very difficult situation," Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud said in remarks with Blinken. "And the primary sufferer of this situation are civilians – civilian populations on both sides are being affected. And here it’s important, I think, that we all condemn the targeting of civilians in any form, at any time, by anyone."
Blinken repeated that "no country can or should be expected to tolerate what Israel has just been on the receiving end of."
3:08
US officials closely monitoring Israel-Hamas conflict
ABC News’ Luis Martinez on the latest from Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s travels throughout the Middle East.
“Hamas is not representative of the Palestinian people or their legitimate aspirations for the future," Blinken added. "Hamas is a terrorist group. Its only agenda is to destroy the state of Israel and to murder Jews. And it’s important that the entire world see it as such."
In readout of their private meeting, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said Blinken against emphasized "the United States’ unwavering focus on halting terrorist attacks by Hamas against Israel" as well as "continued engagement with regional partners to prevent the spread of conflict in the region and their shared commitment to taking steps to help protect civilians."
-ABC News' Shannon Crawford
Oct 14, 2023, 10:33 AM EDT
How to help victims of Israel-Hamas conflict
As the horrendous carnage from the Israel-Hamas conflict grows, the need for humanitarian support has become more urgent on both sides of the border.
More than 2,600 people, including civilians and hundreds of children, have been killed and nearly 9,000 injured in Israel and Gaza since the war broke out on Saturday.
Oct 14, 2023, 9:53 AM EDT
Gaza, Egypt border not open yet for foreign evacuees
The Rafah border between Gaza and Egypt is not yet open to foreigners, including Americans, looking to evacuate. But if Americans who want to evacuate can move closer to the border crossing they should do so, because "there may be very little notice if the crossing opens and it may only open for a limited time," a U.S. Embassy spokesperson said.
Citizens inspect damage to their homes caused by Israeli airstrikes, Oct. 13, 2023 in Gaza City, Gaza.
Ahmad Hasaballah/Getty Images
We will continue to be in touch with private U.S. citizens to determine what assistance we may be able to provide," the spokesperson said.
A senior State Department official said the department is "in touch with a number of the roughly" 500 to 600 Palestinian-Americans "who have expressed interest in receiving information about leaving."
6:36
Israeli military calls for mass evacuations in Gaza
Some civilians are fleeing on foot as Hamas militants are blocking the border.
