Israel-Gaza updates: Israeli forces preparing for 'wide range of offensive plans'

Fighting is ongoing after Hamas launched an attack on Israel on Oct. 7.

ByABC NEWS
Last Updated: October 17, 2023, 4:16 PM EDT

At least 1,400 people have died and 3,400 others have been injured in Israel after the militant group Hamas launched an unprecedented incursion from air, land and sea on Oct. 7, Israeli authorities said.

In Gaza, 3,000 people have been killed and another 12,500 were injured, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

Tensions are high with the prospect of ground war and evacuation orders for Gaza after the Israel Defense Forces called for "all residents of Gaza City to evacuate their homes" and "move south for their protection" early Friday, saying residents should move "and settle in the area south of the Gaza River." The announcement was made, according to the IDF, because it plans to "operate significantly in Gaza City in the coming days" and wanted "to avoid harming civilians."

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Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing. All times Eastern.
Oct 16, 2023, 2:47 pm

Timeline: The Hamas attack and response

On the morning of Oct. 7, sirens echoed across Israel as Hamas terrorists began a full-fledged surprise attack from the air, sea and ground. Hundreds of armed Hamas fighters stormed into Israel from Gaza, charging into cities and gunning down citizens.

Friends and family mourn Dor Reder, who was killed following a deadly infiltration by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip, at his funeral in Beit Kama, southern Israel, Oct. 16, 2023.
Violeta Santos Moura/Reuters

Israeli forces responded by sending wave after wave of bombs into Gaza, killing thousands, trapping civilians and raising fears of a wider conflict in the Middle East.

Click here for the full timeline

Oct 15, 2023, 3:53 AM EDT

IDF says it's ceasing operations along evacuation 'route' for 3-hour window

The Israel Defense Forces urged residents of Gaza City and northern Gaza to continue evacuating Sunday morning

IDF initially ordered a 24-hour evacuation on Friday, which was met with criticism from some humanitarian organizations as well as the United Nations, which said it was informed just after midnight local time that the entire population -- more than 1.1 million residents -- of northern Gaza should be evacuated.

Oct 15, 2023, 3:12 AM EDT

Strike kills Hamas commander behind Nirim attack, Israel says

The commander of a Hamas unit responsible for leading an attack on Kibbutz Nirim was killed in a strike overnight, Israeli military officials said.

Billal Al Kedra, the leader in the southern arm of Hamas commando forces, Khan Yunis Nukhba, was "neutralized" as fighter jets strafed areas of Gaza, officials said in a statement.

"The IDF also struck over one hundred military targets located in Zaytun, Khan Yunis, and west Jabaliya," Israel said. "These strikes impacted the capabilities of the Hamas terrorist organization, by targeting its operational command centers, military compounds, dozens of launchers, anti-tank missile launch posts and observation posts."

Oct 15, 2023, 1:08 AM EDT

'Hamas is not letting people evacuate': IDF

Early Sunday morning, Israel Defense Forces Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus went live on X and stated Hamas is blocking "the evacuation of civilians."

IDF said Hamas issued warnings to residents in Gaza to ignore Israel’s evacuation notice that was issued Friday morning. When civilians did try to leave, Hamas "stopped civilians” and “convoys of Gazan civilians trying to flee," according to Conricus.

Conricus said, "Through the night, rockets were fired at Tel Aviv and southern Israel" and combat is happening "in and around" the northern part of the Gaza Strip while the IDF is continuing to attack "different military targets belonging to Hamas."

Israeli military vehicles were seen stationed near the Gaza border Sunday morning as Israeli troops prepare for "significant ground operations," IDF says.
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Israeli forces deploy near Gaza border in preparation of possible ground operationIsraeli military vehicles were seen stationed near the Gaza border Sunday morning as Israeli troops prepare for "significant ground operations," IDF says.
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"The next stage of operations will be enhanced operations against Hamas until we dismantle Hamas and its military capabilities," said the IDF spokesperson.

Oct 14, 2023, 11:35 PM EDT

Planes have left Israeli airspace and are on their 'way to Florida': DeSantis

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis told reporters on Saturday, "We already have planes that have left Israel air space and are on its way to Florida. We are going to end up having hundreds and hundreds of Floridians that are going to be brought back to Florida in the ensuing days."

“We already have planes that have left Israel airspace and are on its way to Florida,” the Governor said to reporters on Saturday in Iowa.
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1st planes transporting Floridians back home left Israel: DeSantis“We already have planes that have left Israel airspace and are on its way to Florida,” the Governor said to reporters on Saturday in Iowa.
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DeSantis told reporters earlier in the day the planes will land on Sunday.

"We have a lot of Floridians there," DeSantis said Friday. "The federal government really wasn't doing what they needed to do get people out, so we just did an executive order yesterday. We’re going to be sending flights from Israel, back to Florida."

-ABC News' Will McDuffie and Hannah Demissie

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