Live blog: Israel hits Gaza as Qatari, US diplomats discuss developments

Tuesday, October 31, 2023

07:16 GMT - 55 more killed as Israeli airstrikes pummel Gaza

At least 55 Palestinians were killed in fresh Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip early Tuesday, according to local media.

An airstrike hit a house in the city of Rafah in southern Gaza, killing nine and injuring several others, Palestinian news agency Wafa reported.

Another strike targeted a dwelling in the town of Zawaida town in central Gaza, leaving 18 people dead, the broadcaster noted.

Seven others perished and scores were injured in an airstrike on a house in the Zeitoun neighborhood of central Gaza, while 18 were killed in another strike on a home in Rafah city, Wafa said.

07:13 GMT — 15 Palestinians killed in Israeli air strike targeting house in central Gaza

At least 15 Palestinians were killed in an Israeli air strike that targeted a residence belonging to the Abu Shamala family in the Zawaida area of the central Gaza, the Palestine News Agency WAFA reported, citing local and media sources.

WAFA said warplanes also bombed a four-story building in the Zaytoun neighbourhood in southeastern Gaza, resulting in dozens of casualties.

The Israeli military has been conducting relentless air strikes and artillery shelling in all regions of Gaza, resulting in deaths and injuries among Palestinians.

06:50 GMT — UNRWA mourns 63 of its staff killed in Gaza since October 7

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) mourned the 63 members of its staff killed in Gaza due to Israeli attacks since October 7.

"No words can describe the grief for 63 of our UNRWA colleagues killed in Gaza since 7 October," UNRWA said in a statement on its X account.

"This unfathomable, continuous suffering that unfolds each day must stop now," it added.

It said that despite serious risks to its staff, UNRWA continues to serve those in need in Gaza.

UNRWA is the largest UN agency operating in Gaza.

06:40 GMT — Qatari, US top diplomats discuss developments in Gaza

Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani held discussions with his US counterpart Antony Blinken on developments in light of Israel’s onslaught against Gaza.

Blinken phoned Al Thani, who also serves as Qatar’s prime minister, during which "they discussed the gravity of escalating the confrontations in Gaza (and) the necessity of an immediate ceasefire," according to a statement by the Qatari Foreign Ministry.

They also touched on the latest developments in the mediation process to release hostages in Gaza.

The Palestinian resistance group Hamas’s military wing, the Al Qassam Brigades, said earlier in a statement that it is holding 200-250 people captive, including Israeli soldiers and civilians.

So far, four captives held in Gaza have been released by Hamas.

06:30 GMT — Hamas’s armed wing announces targeting of 4 Israeli military vehicles in southern Gaza

The Al Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s armed wing, said that they exchanged fire with Israeli forces that penetrated Gaza.

“Our fighters are engaging with the invading enemy forces in southern Gaza. They are actively involved in the clashes, using automatic weapons and targeting four vehicles with anti-tank shells and explosive devices,” they said in a brief statement on Telegram.

“We targeted an Israeli tank and bulldozer with two anti-tank shells," the statement added.

There has been no immediate response from the Israeli side on the announcement.

For our live updates from Monday (October 30), click here.