Israel-Gaza updates: Biden speaks with Netanyahu about hostages' release, Gaza humanitarian assistance

The hostages are two elderly women who are both Israeli nationals.

Last Updated: October 23, 2023, 4:29 PM EDT

Thousands of people have died and thousands more were injured after 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.

At least 1,400 people have died and 4,629 others have been injured in Israel, according to Israeli authorities. In Gaza, 5,087 people have died and 15,273 have been wounded, according to the Palestinian Health Authority.

Aid workers and officials fear that Israel's call for an evacuation of the northern part of Gaza is precipitating a humanitarian disaster as electricity and other supplies have been cut off in preparation for what appears to be an imminent ground offensive.

Humanitarian groups have urged Israel to call off the evacuation and agree to a cease-fire, even as the country has asserted a right to defend itself -- a right the United States endorses.

Click here for previous updates.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing. All times Eastern.
Oct 17, 2023, 5:28 PM EDT

Biden departs White House to Joint Base Andrews for Israel trip

President Joe Biden has departed the White House and is en route to Joint Base Andrews where he will depart for Israel.

He is expected to meet with Israeli officials on Wednesday.

-ABC News' Mary Bruce

Oct 17, 2023, 5:03 PM EDT

Hamas mulling release of some hostages: Senior US official

Hamas is considering releasing women and children hostages who aren't Israeli through negotiations with Qatar, a senior U.S. official told ABC News.

Roughly 50 of the hostages are non-Israeli, including some Americans, according to the official.

Huda Imam, founder and former general director of the Center for Jerusalem Studies at al Quds University, joins correspondent James Longman to break down how the war escalated to this level.
6:25
New video released by Hamas appears to show hostage being held in Gaza Huda Imam, founder and former general director of the Center for Jerusalem Studies at al Quds University, joins correspondent James Longman to break down how the war escalated to this level.
ABCNews.com

The official added that the majority of the hostages are being held in tunnels underneath Gaza.

-ABC News' Martha Raddatz

Oct 17, 2023, 5:03 PM EDT

Israel-Hamas conflict: Timeline and key developments

More than a week after Hamas terrorists rained thousands of rockets down on Israel and infiltrated the country by air, sea and land in an unprecedented surprise attack, the region stands on the brink of war -- with fears of a wider conflict and thousands dead on both sides of the Israel-Gaza border.

The conflict was touched off by the Oct. 7 sneak attack, which included thousands of armed Hamas fighters breaching a border security fence and indiscriminately gunning down Israeli civilians and soldiers taken off guard.

Israel has responded with a barrage of airstrikes that have decimated the Gaza Strip.

Oct 17, 2023, 4:16 PM EDT

Abbas pulls out of Biden meeting

Mahmoud Abbas, president of the State of Palestine, is pulling out of his Wednesday meeting with President Joe Biden.

"President Mahmoud Abbas decided to return to the homeland tonight, and he called for an emergency leadership meeting tonight," a senior adviser said Tuesday.

Biden is expected to leave the U.S. Tuesday night to head to Israel and Jordan.

-ABC News' Will Gretsky

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