Hamas-Israel conflict as it happened: IDF troops ready for Gaza ground invasion; Australia plans third emergency flight

And that is where we will end our coverage today.

Recapping events:

• Both sides said their death tolls reached 1300 six days after Hamas launched its surprise deadly raids across Israel
• Israel continued to bomb targets in the Gaza Strip but a political decision on whether to launch a ground assault was still being decided, the military said
• Israel’s Energy Minister said no food, fuel or water would be restored to Gaza until the hostages Hamas kidnapped are freed
• Israel estimates around 150 people were taken captive; it has informed the families of 97 hostages so far
• US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Israel and held a joint news conference with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
• Egypt said reports that its border crossing with Gaza was closed were inaccurate
• The UK offered support to Egypt to help secure the crossing for humanitarian and diplomatic purposes
• Syria said Israel bombed its two airports in Damascus

Thank you for joining us. Our rolling coverage will resume tomorrow.

Syria’s state television said Israel launched attacks on the main airports in the capital Damascus and the northern city of Aleppo on Thursday.

Local media channel Sham FM said Syrian air defences were launched in response to both attacks.

It said here had been damage but no casualties at the Aleppo airport, but did not give any information on the impact of the strike on Damascus Airport.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has offered support to Egypt to help keep the border with Gaza open.

Currently, Palestinians in Gaza are essentially trapped in the strip that Israel is bombing, as Israel controls the coastal border and has closed its own land border.

A short time ago Egypt said the crossing at Rafah, at its border with Gaza remained open, and warned Israel against targetting the area.

Smoke rises from an explosion caused by Israeli airstrikes on the border between Egypt and Rafah.Credit: AP

Sunak, in a call with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, acknowledged the security situation at the Rafah border crossing.

“He offered the UK’s support to try to manage this situation and keep the route open for humanitarian and consular reasons, including for British nationals,” a statement from Number 10 said.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is speaking the media alongside US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Netanyahu said Hamas, an “enemy of civilisation,” must be dealt with “exactly the way” of ISIS - a terrorist organisation the global community joined forces to crush.

He said Hamas had burned Israelis alive, kidnapped, molested and beheaded their victims.

Blinken said that Hamas did not represent the plight of the Palestinian people and their quest to live in peace.

Palestine’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs has issued a statement accusing Israel of “exploiting” the war and “blanket endorsements” of other countries to commit genocide.

World leaders have backed Israel’s right to defend herself against Hamas.

Palestinians inspect damage caused by airstrikes in the Karama area of Gaza City.Credit: Getty

Israel’s Energy Minister has said there will be no water and fuel restored to Gaza — home to 2.3 million inhabitants — until Hamas releases the hostages, believed to number 150, whom they seized during its deadly raids on Israel on Saturday.

The Palestinian Foreign Minister called for international action to “immediately halt this horrific war.”

“The Israeli state is implementing a vicious campaign of collective punishment against the civilian population it has held captive in Gaza for 16 years, now using starvation as a method of warfare and cutting off water, medicine, fuel, and other basic necessities, with the aim of inflicting as much human loss, suffering, and destruction as possible,” the ministry said.

Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have issued a statement on their Archwell Foundation website. 

Britain’s Prince Harry, right, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, arrive to a wheelchair basketball match at the Invictus Games in Duesseldorf, Germany, September 2023Credit: AP

Entitled “With Heavy Hearts” the pair said they condemned “all acts of terrorism” but made no mention of the terrorist organisation Hamas, which began the war with its attacks on Israel on Saturday that have killed more than 1300 Israelis.

“At The Archewell Foundation, with Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, we stand against all acts of terrorism and brutality,” the statement said.

“We are supporting our partners and organisations on the frontlines in Israel to provide the urgent aid needed, and to help all innocent victims of this unconscionable level of human suffering.”

Yesterday, the Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Catherine issued a statement that said the “horrors inflicted by Hamas’s terrorist attack” were “appalling.”

The Palestinian Health Ministry says the number of Palestinians “martyred” is 1354 and 6049 are injured.

This picture taken on October 11, 2023 shows an aerial view of buildings destroyed by Israeli air strikes in the Jabalia camp for Palestinian refugees in Gaza CityCredit: AFP

The UK has ordered the families of diplomats in Tel Aviv to leave Israel.

The British foreign office said in a statement that its diplomats would remain on active duty in the country.

“We are temporarily drawing down dependants of staff at our Embassy in Tel Aviv and our Consulate in Jerusalem as a precautionary measure,” the statement said.

“Our Embassy and Consulate remain fully staffed and continue to provide consular services to those who require assistance.”

The UK’s Foreign Secretary James Cleverly was on the ground in Israel as a show of Britain’s support around 24 hours ago.

Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz has said anyone who burns the Israeli flag, condones murder or glorifies Hamas will be prosecuted.

Scholz made the comments in a speech to the Bundestag.

He said Germany’s place was by Israel’s side and cancelled all new development aid to Palestine, saying that the Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas had yet to condemn the attacks.

“I say, your silence is a disgrace and all our development cooperation with Palestinians will be re-examined, and we will see how our projects can support peace in the region and support the security of Israel,” Scholz said.

“Until this review is completed, we will not provide any new development cooperation funds.”

Israel’s President Isaac Herzog said that meeting the families of hostages was “extremly painful.”

Israel estimates at least 150 people were taken hostage by Hamas and are being held in Gaza.

The families of 97 families have been notified, Israel’s Defence Force said.

“Israel will do whatever it can to bring them back home safely,” the President vowed.

He said the international community could not sit idly by during these attempts and must assist Israel. He said it was time for the international community to speak with “moral clarity.”

“The pain will remain forever,” he said.