Israel-Gaza updates: Blinken, Abbas meet on restoring 'calm' in West Bank, State Department says
The top U.S. diplomat made an unannounced stop in the West Bank on Sunday.
Thousands of people have died and thousands more have been injured since the militant group Hamas launched an unprecedented surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7 and Israel retaliated with a bombing campaign and total siege of the neighboring Gaza Strip, leaving the region on the verge of all-out war.
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Latest headlines:
- Blinken meets with Iraqi prime minister
- Blinken visits West Bank, meets with Palestinian Authority leader Abbas
- Blinken in Jordan reaffirms need for 'increased, sustained' humanitarian aid for Gaza
- ABC News' Ian Pannell embeds with IDF in Gaza
- Doctors Without Borders says conflict has reached ‘new low’ after ambulance strike
What we know about the conflict
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.
Ground fighting between IDF, Hamas near Jabalia
The Israel Defense Forces said Israeli soldiers and Hamas militants fought overnight near Jabalia in northern Gaza. This comes as the IDF said it's "significantly" deepening its ground operations.
The IDF said it's hit more than 11,000 targets in Gaza since Oct. 7.
11 Israeli soldiers killed in ground fighting Tuesday
The Israel Defense Forces said 11 of its soldiers were killed in ground fighting in Gaza on Tuesday.
The total number of Israeli soldiers killed now stands at 326, according to the IDF.
Phone, internet down in Gaza again, Palestinian communications companies say
Phone and internet service in Gaza is down once again, the Paltel communications company claimed early Wednesday morning.
"We regret to announce a complete interruption of all communications and Internet services with the Gaza Strip, due to international routes that were previously reconnected being cut off again," Paltel said.
Jawwal, a cellular communications company, also claimed a loss of service.
Internet and phone service in Gaza was inaccessible last Friday for more than 24-hours.
-ABC News' Will Gretsky and Jolie Lash
Biden and Abdullah committed to facilitating 'life-saving' humanitarian aid for Gaza
President Joe Biden spoke with Jordan’s King Abdullah The White House said on Tuesday.
The leaders discussed the latest developments in Gaza and stated their commitment to "facilitating the increased, sustained delivery of life-saving humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza and the resumption of essential services," according to a press release from the White House.
The President reiterated the importance of "protecting civilian lives and respecting international humanitarian law, as Israel defends its citizens and combats terrorism," according to the White House.
The President and King Abdullah also agreed it’s a critical need to ensure "Palestinians are not forcibly displaced outside of Gaza," while also discussing ways to reduce regional tensions.
-ABC News' Justin R. Gomez
13 killed from strikes on ambulances at gate of Gaza hospital: Gaza Health Ministry
Thirteen people were killed and 26 were injured from a blast that struck ambulances at the gate of Gaza's Al-Shifa hospital complex, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry.
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said the group of ambulances were returning to the hospital from a mission to transport injured people to the Gaza-Egypt Rafah border crossing.
The Israel Defense Forces said its aircraft hit an ambulance that it believes was being used by Hamas.
"We have information which demonstrates that Hamas' method of operation is to transfer terror operatives and weapons in ambulances," the IDF said.
"A number" of Hamas terrorists were killed in the blast, the IDF said.
The IDF said, "We emphasize that this area is a battle zone. Civilians in the area are repeatedly called upon to evacuate southwards for their own safety."