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.

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Oct 15, 2023, 12:10 PM EDT

US 'working around the clock' to help Americans leave Gaza: Sullivan

As time dwindles ahead of an anticipated Israeli ground invasion of Gaza, the U.S. is calling on fleeing citizens to head toward the southern border crossing to Egypt.

"We have been working around the clock. We have an entire dedicated team that is working on nothing but this: helping American citizens who are in Gaza be able to get safe passage through the border crossing to Egypt," Jake Sullivan told ABC "This Week" co-anchor Martha Raddatz on Sunday.

The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem on Sunday morning urged U.S. citizens trapped in the Gaza Strip to move to southern Gaza along the main highway, the Salah al-Din Street.

ABC News’ Martha Raddatz interviews national security adviser Jake Sullivan on “This Week.”
7:20
Biden has ‘no higher priority’ than getting American hostages back: SullivanABC News’ Martha Raddatz interviews national security adviser Jake Sullivan on “This Week.”
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"Our goal is to ensure that every American who is in Gaza has safe passage out, and we will not rest until that happens," Sullivan said.

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Oct 15, 2023, 12:09 PM EDT

Israeli military spokesman gives update, warns Hezbollah

"We are currently striking Hamas in its entirety," Israel Defense Forces Lt. Col. Peter Lerner told ABC News "This Week" co-anchor Martha Raddatz on Sunday.

"We did not ask for this war, but we will win it," he said.

Lerner also had a message for Hezbollah.

"I would highly recommend that Hezbollah watch very closely what is happening to Hamas and the organization in Gaza as we speak," he said. "They should be very cautious of crossing that threshold, because we are determined to defend the state of Israel."

Israeli forces have been engaging in skirmishes with the Lebanese militant group along Israel's northern border with Lebanon in the days since Hamas' surprise attack on Israel from Gaza on Oct. 7.

Watch the interview here:

ABC News’ Martha Raddatz interviews IDF spokesman Peter Lerner on “This Week.”
6:45
‘We did not ask for this war, but we will win it’: IDF spokesmanABC News’ Martha Raddatz interviews IDF spokesman Peter Lerner on “This Week.”
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-ABC News' Tal Axelrod

Oct 15, 2023, 10:19 AM EDT

Situation in Gaza 'about as bad as it can get': Sari Bashi

The situation in Gaza is "about as bad as it can get," Sari Bashi, program director of Human Rights Watch, told ABC News Live Sunday.

"People are being forced to drink brackish, untreated water because the price of bottled water has gone up beyond what most people can afford," Bashi said. "Food is short, there is no electricity. Even emergency generators that hospitals have are running low on fuel, and supplies are dwindling."

Watch more here:

Sari Bashi, program director of Human Rights Watch, details how the Israeli military cut food, fuel and electricity to the Gaza Strip.
5:43
Dire situation in Gaza as supplies cut offSari Bashi, program director of Human Rights Watch, details how the Israeli military cut food, fuel and electricity to the Gaza Strip.
ABCNews.com

Oct 15, 2023, 10:16 AM EDT

US congressional delegation to Israel rushed to bomb shelter

While on a bipartisan congressional delegation trip to Israel, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and other members of the delegation were rushed into a bomb shelter in Tel Aviv to wait out a rocket attack, according to a social media post from Schumer.

Sen. Chuck Schumer said that the congressional delegation on a trip to Israel was rushed to a bomb shelter in Tel Aviv amid rocket fire.
2:33
Schumer gives congressional delegation updateSen. Chuck Schumer said that the congressional delegation on a trip to Israel was rushed to a bomb shelter in Tel Aviv amid rocket fire.
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"It shows you what Israelis have to go through," Schumer said in his post on X, which included a photo showing him and Republican Sen. Mitt Romney, a Romney staff and several others huddled in the small bomb shelter.

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