sraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to “demolish” Hamas after convening an emergency cabinet meeting on a looming ground invasion in Gaza.
Mr Netanyahu released footage on social media showing ministers in Tel Aviv giving a minute’s silence in tribute to the 1,300 Israelis killed after a surprise attack by Hamas last Saturday.
The Israeli leader said all ministers were “working around the clock, with a united front”.
“Hamas thought we would be demolished. It is we who will demolish Hamas,” Mr Netanyahu said, adding that the show of unity “sends a clear message to the nation, the enemy and the world”.
It came as British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly warned Hamas wants to turn the conflict into a “war between the Muslim world and the wider world”. Speaking to Sky News, he said “it’s in Israel’s interest to avoid civilian casualties and Palestinian casualties”.
Israel’s army has said it is preparing for a “coordinated” air, ground and naval offensive on Gaza as civilians attempt to flee the conflict zone.
It is estimated some 300,000 troops have massed on the border ready to push into Gaza which has suffered more than 2,300 fatalities, local authorities have said.
Up to 10,000 people have also been wounded, with UN Agency for Palestine Refugees director of communications Juliette Touma telling the BBC: “This is the worst we’ve ever seen, This is hitting rock bottom. This is Gaza being pushed into an abyss, there is tragedy unfolding as the world is watching.”
Live updates
Blinken to head back to Israel on Monday for further meetings
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Israel again on Monday for further consulations with Israeli leaders, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said.
The top American diplomat has embarked on his most extensive trip to date in the Middle East, working with Arab allies to prevent the war from spiralling into a wider conflict. He has just landed in Egypt, his seventh stop since kicking off the regional tour on Thursday.
Humza Yousaf’s wife calls on world to act as family remains stuck in Gaza
The wife of Scotland’s First Minister has called on world leaders to “give the children of Gaza a chance of life” as she spoke of her “complete despair” at the situation in the region.
Nadia El-Nakla said she fears the city where her family has a home is being “obliterated” as Israel seeks retaliation for an attack by the Palestinian terror group Hamas.
Her parents are currently trapped in Gaza after travelling there from Scotland recently to visit family, and Ms El-Nakla spoke about the situation as the start of the SNP conference in Aberdeen on Sunday.
An emergency motion was passed unanimously by delegates, which calls on the UK Government to back United Nations demands for a humanitarian corridor to be set up, allowing people to leave and for aid to get into the territory to “mitigate the human tragedy unfolding in Gaza”.
Humza Yousaf embraced his wife after she spoke to the conference, and then wiped away tears.
Ms El-Nakla, who is an SNP councillor, used her speech to call on the UK Government and world leaders to do more to help those suffering in the area.
“Instead of sending spy planes, the UK should be sending supplies,” she told the conference.
“We are not watching a natural disaster, this can be stopped. This can only happen when the world leaders use diplomacy instead of weaponizing and strive for peace over war.”
Home Secretary issues warning to demonstrators at pro-Palestine rallies
Home Secretary Suella Braverman has issued a warning to demonstrators who attended a pro-Palestine rally on Saturday.
Thousands attended a demonstration in central London which led to the arrests of 15 people despite many protesting peacefully.
“Thank you to police officers who worked so hard yesterday in difficult circumstances to manage tens of thousands of protesters,” Ms Braverman said.
“To all those who saw fit to promote genocide, glorify terrorism and mock the murder of Jewish people, including women and babies – the police are coming for you.”
Backlog at Israeli ports growing
The backlog of ships is growing at Israeli ports while operations continue at most terminals amid preparations by the military to launch a ground assault in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, according to data and sources.
Israel has faced heavy rocket barrages including in the south of the country, which has prompted the closure of the smaller Ashkelon port, which is the nearest terminal to Gaza.
The Ashdod port has imposed restrictions on the transport of hazardous materials which has meant slower transits.
The port said in its latest statement posted on its website that it continued to operate as normal “even under wartime”, adding that it was prepared to continue to supply Israel‘s economy with everything that was needed “around the clock” to ensure the population did not experience shortages.
At least three cargo and dry bulk ships carrying cargo bound for Ashdod had stopped in waters nearby, with a further three vessels including an oil tanker and a container ship heading for the port, data from ship tracking and maritime analytics provider MarineTraffic showed on Sunday.
Around 13 ships – comprising cargo, container and dry bulk vessels – were currently moored inside Ashdod port, according to MarineTraffic data.
At least three laden dry bulk ships were waiting off Haifa in northern Israel, separate data showed. Haifa and Ashdod are Israel‘s biggest and most vital ports.
IDF claims to have killed Hamas commander who led kibbutz attack
The Israeli military has claimed it has killed Billal Al Kedra, the commander of Hamas’ Nukhba unit in the southern Gazan city of Khan Younis.
The Israelis said he was responsible for the mass killings at the Nirim kibbutz in southern Israel last Saturday.
126 Israeli hostages in Gaza, say IDF
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has said that the number of confirmed Israeli hostages being held in Gaza is 126.
Hamas has previously claimed that 13 hostages have been killed within Gaza by Israeli airstrikes. It said there were foreigners among those who died, without specifying their nationalities.
Reuters reports the Israeli military also said that at least 279 of its soldiers have been killed since October 7, when Hamas launched its attack on southern Israel. The total number of Israeli casualties has been given as more than 1,300 killed.
Pope Francis calls for humanitarian corridors to help those under siege in Gaza
Pope Francis on Sunday called for humanitarian corridors to help those under siege in Gaza and renewed his appeal for the release of hostages held by militant Islamist group Hamas.
“I strongly ask that the children, the sick, the elderly, women and all civilians do not become victims of the conflict,” the Pope said during his weekly address to the crowds in St Peter’s square.
“Humanitarian right must be respected, above all in Gaza.”
Cleverly open to talks with China over Israel-Hamas conflict
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly suggested he is open to holding talks with China over the Israeli-Hamas conflict.
He told Times Radio: “I haven’t spoken directly with (China foreign minister) Wang Yi, (US Secretary of State) Tony Blinken has, I’ll be comparing notes with him later today.
“One of the points I’ve long made is that engagement matters, it is important work … as I say, I’ll be comparing notes with Tony Blinken to see whether there is utility in speaking with the Chinese foreign minister.
“But engagement with China is important, I’ve always made the case that engagement with China is important so I may well do depending on the feedback I get from my conversation with Tony Blinken later on today.”
Pictured: Israeli tanks mass near Gaza Strip border
Humza Yousaf backs programme allowing Palestinians and Israelis to flee to UK
Scotland’s First Minister has backed a programme that would allow Palestinians and Israelis to flee to the UK.
Asked about such a move, Humza Yousaf said he “absolutely” supports it.
He added: “There’s many people who are worried about their relatives – Jewish, Muslim, Christian, atheist, agnostic – whether it’s those that are captured by Hamas or whether it’s those like my own family in Gaza.”
He went on to reiterate his calls for the opening of a humanitarian corridor to allow supplies to reach civilians in Gaza, as well as calling on the international community to deal with the “root cause” of the hostilities in the region.
“We have to, of course, bring people to the UK if we are able to, but also, if we want to stop this perpetual cycle of violence… then we also have to say unequivocally, and there should be no controversy about this statement, that an Israeli life and a Palestinian life are equal.
“We have to make sure that we never lose sight of that.”
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