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 22, 2023, 11:24 AM EDT

Scott maintains Biden has 'blood on his hands'

Republican presidential candidate Tim Scott doubled down on his accusations Sunday that President Joe Biden has "blood on his hands" after the Hamas' terror attack spurred a wider war.

The South Carolina senator has been a vocal critic of the United States agreeing to release some $6 billion in Iranian oil revenue in order to free five American detainees. The deal, arranged before the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, prompted the Biden administration to re-freeze the money after the terrorist group's rampage.

ABC News’ Jon Karl interviews GOP presidential candidate Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., on “This Week.”
7:20
Congress should pass Israel and Ukraine aid ‘separately’: Sen. Tim ScottABC News’ Jon Karl interviews GOP presidential candidate Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., on “This Week.”
ABCNews.com

"Do not be surprised when the result of that $6 billion leads to more conflict in the Middle East," Scott told ABC "This Week" co-anchor Jonathan Karl.

"I'm saying with great clarity that weakness from the American president, plus the negotiations, leading to terrorist attacks by negotiating with the No. 1 state sponsor of terrorism in the world -- yes, it creates complicity," Scott said, repeating claims he made earlier this month.

-ABC News' Gabriella Abdul-Hakim

Oct 22, 2023, 9:37 AM EDT

Key UN aid agency says it's on verge of running out of fuel

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency, which has been assisting people trapped in Gaza, said Sunday that it is on the verge of running out of fuel "critical" to keeping its humanitarian response going.

“In three days, UNRWA will run out of fuel, critical for our humanitarian response across the Gaza Strip," UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini said in a statement. “Without fuel, there will be no water, no functioning hospitals and bakeries. Without fuel, aid will not reach those in desperate need. Without fuel, there will be no humanitarian assistance."

The UNRWA, the largest humanitarian agency in the Gaza Strip, said it is sheltering about 500,000 people in Gaza out of the nearly 1 million people who have been displaced by the Israel-Hamas conflict, the agency said.

“I call on all parties and those with influence over them to immediately allow fuel supplies into the Gaza Strip and to ensure that fuel is strictly used to prevent a collapse of the humanitarian response," Lazzarini said.

Oct 22, 2023, 9:03 AM EDT

As more aid trucks roll in, Cindy McCain says Gaza situation 'catastrophic'

Another small convoy of humanitarian aid trucks crossed into Gaza from Egypt Sunday, as the executive director of the U.N. World Food Programme told ABC News' "This Week" that the situation in the Palestinian territory has grown "catastrophic."

Live images from the Rafah crossing Sunday showed the trucks moving into Gaza. U.N. World Food Program Executive Director Cindy McCain said 17 aid trucks rolled across the border Sunday.

Aid convoy trucks wait at the Rafah border crossing for clearance to enter Gaza on Oct. 19, 2023 in North Sinai, Egypt.
Mahmoud Khaled/Getty Images

It remains unclear exactly what type of aid crossed the border, but the word "petroleum" was written on the sides of five of the trucks.

"The situation is catastrophic in Gaza right now," McCain said on "This Week." "There has been no food, no water, no electricity. You've heard all the stories. Yesterday, we were able to get 20 trucks to cross. And by that 20 trucks total, three of which were WFP."

ABC News’ Jon Karl interviews Executive Director of the World Food Programme Cindy McCain on “This Week.”
2:50
Current aid to Gaza is ‘not enough’: Cindy McCainABC News’ Jon Karl interviews Executive Director of the World Food Programme Cindy McCain on “This Week.”
ABCNews.com

McCain said the first shipment enabled the WFP to feed about 200,000 people during dinner Saturday.

"But that's not enough. That's a drop. We need -- we need secure and sustainable access in there, in that region, so that we can feed. This is a catastrophe happening and we just simply have to get these trucks in."

-ABC News' Ayat Al-Tawy

Oct 22, 2023, 5:13 AM EDT

IDF says it has notified families of 212 hostages being held in Gaza

Israel Defense Forces spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said Sunday that the military has notified the families of 212 hostages that their loved ones are being held by the Hamas militant group in the neighboring Gaza Strip.

That number has continued to increase as the IDF investigates the situation and gathers more information on Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

The whereabouts of another 100 people remain unknown, according to Hagari.

-ABC News' Bruno Nota and Morgan Winsor

Related Topics

Sponsored Content by Taboola