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

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

ByABC NEWS
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 19, 2023, 7:22 PM EDT

Lebanese Armed Forces say IDF targeted a media team with 'machine guns'

Lebanese Armed Forces said the Israel Defense Forces targeted a media team of seven people, with "machine guns," killing one of them and wounding another, according to a release.

The media team was near the Israeli "Al-Abbad site in the outskirts of the town of Hula," according to the Lebanese Armed Forces.

"An army patrol coordinated with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to transfer the martyr and injured to a hospital and the rest of the team to safety," the Lebanese Armed Forces said in a statement.

-ABC News' Ellie Kaufman

Oct 19, 2023, 7:08 PM EDT

Rafah crossing hitting roadblocks, US still 'hopeful': Source

The U.S. is still "hopeful" that the Rafah gate will be opened on Friday, but a source familiar with negotiations told ABC News that efforts are now hitting multiple roadblocks.

Efforts to repair the damage to the crossing caused by Israeli strikes are taking longer than anticipated, according to the source.

-ABC News' Shannon Crawford

Oct 19, 2023, 6:34 PM EDT

US believes Gaza hospital death toll lower than initial estimates

U.S. intelligence agencies believe the death toll from the al-Ahli Hospital explosion is between 100 and 300 people, and likely on the lower end of that range, although the estimates are preliminary, a U.S. official told ABC News.

The estimate was included in an unclassified U.S. intelligence assessment on Wednesday evening, the official said.

A satellite image taken on Oct. 18, 2023, of the Al Ahli hospital in Gaza (highlighted), in the aftermath of the explosion that took place the day prior.
2023 Maxar Technologies

The Palestinian Ministry of Health initially said at least 500 people had died in the explosion at the hospital, but later updated their estimate to 471.

The Ministry of Health, which is run by Hamas, also said 314 others were injured, including 28 who remain in critical condition.

The New York Times first reported the existence of Wednesday evening’s intelligence estimate.

-ABC News' Ben Gittleson and Cindy Smith

Oct 19, 2023, 4:15 PM EDT

Navy ship shoots down cruise missiles potentially heading to targets in Israel

The USS Carney, a Navy destroyer in the Red Sea, shot down multiple missiles launched by Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen on Thursday, officials said.

The land attack cruise missiles and drones were sent by Houthis forces in Yemen.
5:40
3 missiles, 8 drones shot down by US Navy Destroyer in YemenThe land attack cruise missiles and drones were sent by Houthis forces in Yemen.
ABCNews.com

"We cannot say for certain what these missiles and drones were targeting but they were launched from Yemen heading north along the Red Sea potentially to targets in Israel," a Pentagon spokesman said.

Read more here.

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