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.

ByABC NEWS
Last Updated: November 5, 2023, 5:13 PM EST

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:

Here's how the news is developing. All times Eastern.
Mar 1, 2024, 6:03 am

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.

Oct 31, 2023, 9:57 PM EDT

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

Oct 31, 2023, 6:00 PM EDT

52 Palestinians killed in refugee camp strike, Gaza Health Ministry says

The Gaza Health Ministry, which is run by Hamas, put out a statement claiming that 52 Palestinians were killed in the Israel Defense Forces strike on the Jabalia refugee camp earlier Tuesday.

-ABC News' Ellie Kaufman, Nasser Atta and Samy Zayara

Oct 31, 2023, 4:24 PM EDT

Israeli forces 'fighting deep inside the Gaza Strip': IDF

The Israeli military is "fighting deep inside the Gaza Strip," killing "terrorists in close range combat" and "conducting coordinated strikes on terror targets from land, air and sea," the Israel Defense Forces said Tuesday.

An Israeli tank moves along the border with the Gaza Strip in southern Israel near Sderot, Oct. 31, 2023.
Yuri Cortez/AFP via Getty Images

The IDF said it has "eliminated many terrorists and destroyed terror infrastructure."

On Tuesday, Israeli soldiers killed terror leader Ibrahim Biari, the IDF said.

An Israeli army soldier puts on his helmet as he mans a turret in an armored tracked vehicle deployed at a position along the border with the Gaza Strip in southern Israel, Oct. 31, 2023.
Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images

"Striking Biari caused the collapse of adjacent buildings because of the expansive infrastructure there whose purpose was to launch terror attacks against our forces," the IDF said. "During the battle, the entire infrastructure collapsed and many terrorists were killed."

"The Hamas terrorists continue to use civilian population as protective armor. This is intentional and devastatingly barbaric," the IDF continued. "Once again, today, we call on the citizens of Northern Gaza to move Southward. … We will act forcefully in the city of Gaza and in the Northern Gaza Strip. We will continue to act against any terrorist in every part of the Gaza Strip."

A picture taken from Israel's southern city of Sderot shows a fire erupting following Israeli shelling of the northern Gaza Strip, on Oct. 29, 2023, amid ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement.
Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images

-ABC News' Ellie Kaufman

Oct 31, 2023, 4:16 PM EDT

State Department says 'good progress' made toward securing exit for Americans in Gaza

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller signaled Tuesday that the U.S. might be close to securing safe passage for the approximately 400 Americans and 600 of their immediate family members trapped in Gaza, saying negotiators "have made good progress on this."

"We are making very good progress on this issue. You may have seen some reports that have moved from the region just in the last few hours about the possibility of Rafah gate opening tomorrow,” Miller said. "I'm not in the position to make any announcements as I stand here right now, but I would say that we would welcome any agreement that would permit the safe exit of American citizens, families, other foreign nationals."

Smoke rises following Israeli bombardment on Gaza City, Oct. 29, 2023.
Abed Khaled/AP

The Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza is expected to open Wednesday to receive injured Palestinians from Gaza, according to Egypt state-linked TV channels.

-ABC News' Shannon Crawford

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