Israel-Gaza updates: Israel says ground operation underway in southern Gaza
The IDF said it's carried out 10,000 airstrikes in the Gaza Strip.
Last Updated: November 28, 2023, 6:28 PM EST
The temporary cease-fire between Hamas and Israel ended early Friday, and Israel has resumed its bombardment of Gaza.
The end of the cease-fire came after Hamas freed over 100 of the more than 200 people its militants took hostage during the Oct. 7 surprise attack on Israel. In exchange, Israel released more than 200 Palestinians from Israeli prisons.
The latest outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that governs the Gaza Strip, has passed the four-month mark.
In the Gaza Strip, at least 30,228 people have been killed and 71,377 others have been wounded by Israeli forces since Oct. 7, according to Gaza's Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health.
In Israel, at least 1,200 people have been killed and 6,900 others have been injured by Hamas and other Palestinian militants since Oct. 7, according to the Israel Defense Forces.
There has also been a surge in violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Israeli forces have killed at least 395 people in the territory since Oct. 7, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
The ongoing war began after Hamas-led militants launched an unprecedented incursion into southern Israel from neighboring Gaza via land, sea and air. Scores of people were killed while more than 200 others were taken hostage, according to Israeli authorities. The Israeli military subsequently launched retaliatory airstrikes followed by a ground invasion of Gaza, a 140-square-mile territory where more than 2 million Palestinians have lived under a blockade imposed by Israel and supported by Egypt since Hamas came to power in 2007. Gaza, unlike Israel, has no air raid sirens or bomb shelters.
Nov 28, 2023, 6:18 PM EST
Hostage release to be 'prime' focus of Blinken's Middle East trip, Kirby says
Releasing more hostages will be a "prime" focus of Secretary of State Antony Blinken's latest trip to the Middle East, the White House said.
"We're up around 70 or so hostages out so far, which is good. It's a good start, but it's just a start. There are many more," White House National Security spokesperson John Kirby told reporters Tuesday. "We want to get them all back."
Blinken will also meet with his Israeli counterparts to reassure them of U.S. support and talk about getting humanitarian assistance to Gaza, Kirby said.
This week's trip will be Blinken's fourth to the region since the Oct. 7 attack.
-ABC News' Cheyenne Haslett
Nov 28, 2023, 6:05 PM EST
White House: Over 54K pounds of aid delivered to Egypt for Gaza on 1st of 3 flights
The United States delivered more than 54,000 pounds of medical and food aid for Gaza in a flight to Egypt earlier Tuesday, according to National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.
Two more planes are set to make deliveries in the coming days, he said.
"The humanitarian needs in Gaza demand that the international community do much more," Sullivan continued, adding that the U.S. is committed to keeping that aid up.
-ABC News' Cheyenne Haslett
Nov 28, 2023, 4:21 PM EST
12 hostages released in latest exchange: IDF
Twelve hostages are back in Israeli territory in the latest exchange, according to the Israeli government.
The hostages include 10 Israelis and two foreign nationals, both from Thailand, officials said.
A hostage who was abducted by Hamas gunmen during the October 7 attack on Israel holds a dog while she and others are handed over by Hamas militants to members of the International Committee of the Red Cross in the Gaza Strip, Nov. 28, 2023.
Al-qassam Brigades via Reuters
The Israeli citizens were identified as Tamar Metzger, 78; Ditza Hayman, 84; Norlin Babdila, 60; Ada Sagi, 75; Ophelia Edith Roitman, 77; Rimon Kirsht, 36; Merav Tal, 53; and the Leimberg family -- Gabriella Leimberg, 59, Mia Leimberg, 17, and Clara Marman, 63.
Hostages who were abducted by Hamas gunmen during the October 7 attack on Israel, are handed over by Hamas militants to members of the International Committee of the Red Cross in the Gaza Strip, Nov. 28, 2023.
Al-qassam Brigades via Reuters
The IDF said the hostages were taken through Egypt before heading to a meeting point in Kerem Shalom, in Israel.
Five of the women -- Metzger, Hayman, Ada Sagi, Roitman and Tal -- were residents of Kibbutz Nir Oz, one of the communities hit hardest by Hamas' Oct. 7 attack.
"They were held captive, in harsh conditions and deprived of essential medical care. Two of the women released have been separated from their husbands, who remain in captivity," the kibbutz said in a statement. "The Nir Oz community is committed to support them, and their families, through the long recovery process ahead."
Thirty Palestinian prisoners were released in exchange for the hostages, according to Qatari officials.
3:07
12 more hostages released after extended Israel-Hamas cease-fire
The hostages include 10 Israelis and two foreign nationals.
-ABC News' Will Gretsky
Nov 28, 2023, 2:31 PM EST
4-year-old American-Israeli released from hospital
Abigail Idan, the 4-year-old American-Israeli hostage who was released by Hamas on Sunday, has been discharged from Schneider Children's Medical Center, hospital officials said.
Abigail Edan who returned last night to Israel, sits with her aunt Liron at the Schneider Children's Medical Center, Nov. 27, 2023.
Schneider Children's Medical Center/AP
"Since her arrival, the medical and psychosocial team at Schneider accorded her all-embracing medical and emotional care," officials said.
President Joe Biden said Monday that he "spoke with Abigail’s family following her release, and we are working closely with our Israeli partners to ensure she gets the care and support she needs as she begins to recover from this unspeakable trauma."
Abigail Edan who returned last night to Israel, sits with her aunt Liron, uncle Zuli and her grandparents Shlomit, and Eitan at the Schneider Children's Medical Center, Nov. 27, 2023.