"We moved to a new phase in the war," says Israel’s defense minister
From CNN’s Amir Tal in Jerusalem
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant attends a joint press conference with German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (not pictured) in Berlin, Germany, on September 28, 2023. Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters/FILE
Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has confirmed military operations against Hamas have progressed.
"We moved to a new phase in the war,” he said in a statement delivered in Hebrew.
“Tonight, the ground in Gaza shook. We attacked above ground and below ground. We attacked terrorist operatives at all levels, in all places. The instructions to our forces are clear: the operation will continue until a new order is given,” he said.
Some context: Earlier, Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said Israeli ground forces were inside Gaza, having entered the enclave overnight from the north.
Israeli forces “went into the Gaza Strip and expanded the ground operation where infantry, armor and engineer units and artillery with heavy fire are taking part,” Hagari said during a press briefing in Tel Aviv.
“The forces are in the field and continue the fighting,” he said, without giving further details.
Additionally, the Israeli military reissued a call for civilians in northern Gaza to evacuate. That statement made reference to an impending IDF operation against Hamas in Gaza.
A ground offensive has been widely expected following the attacks, but it does not appear as though any major operation aimed at seizing and holding significant amounts of the territory is yet underway.
12:28 p.m. ET, October 28, 2023
Palestinian Water Authority says second water line into Gaza turned back on
From CNN's Rene Marsh
Palestinian civilians wait to collect water using horse- and donkey-drawn carts, in Rafah, southern Gaza, on October 28. Said Khatib/AFP/Getty Images
Gaza has three lines that bring water it purchases from Israel to the enclave. All of the lines were shut off at one point. A line that runs to southern Gaza was turned back on 10 days ago, according to the authority.
The Palestinian Water Authority said a second line has now been restored. It has a production capacity of 15,000 cubic meters per day.
The Palestinian Water Authority said it is working to ensure that the water reaches communities in central Gaza, but that task is difficult because it has lost communications with colleagues on the ground.
12:30 p.m. ET, October 28, 2023
Thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters take to the streets in London
From CNN’s Catherine Nicholls in London
A protester waves Palestinian flags sitting on a red telephone box on Whitehall during the 'March For Palestine' in London, on October 28, to call for a ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Henry Nicholls/AFP/Getty Images
Thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters streamed onto London's streets on Saturday in a national "March for Palestine," calling for a ceasefire over Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
The organizers of the march, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, said on Saturday afternoon that “hundreds of thousands” of people had gathered at the march. The London Metropolitan Police has not released any figures related to this procession.
In videos online, marchers were heard chanting for a “ceasefire now.”
London’s Metropolitan Police said that it was aware of the procession and that it had deployed more than 1,000 officers to police the event.
The Met also said that nobody involved in the Palestine Solidarity Campaign march would be allowed to gather near the Israeli embassy in London.
In another pro-Palestinian solidarity march that took place last Saturday, up to 100,000 people were estimated to have attended, according to police estimates.
12:20 p.m. ET, October 28, 2023
Israel's ground operation is alarming hostages' families. Here's what we know about efforts to free them
From CNN's Sophie Tanno, Priscilla Alvarez and Sam Fossum
"This night was the most terrible of all nights," said the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, a group lobbying for the release of the captives.
"It was a long and sleepless night, against the backdrop of the major IDF operation in the Strip, and absolute uncertainty regarding the fate of the hostages held there, who were also subject to the heavy bombings.
"Anxiety, frustration, and especially enormous anger that none of the war cabinet bothered to meet with the families of the hostages to explain one thing - whether the ground operation endangers the well-being of the 229 hostages in Gaza."
Here's what we know about the hostages:
Efforts continue: The White House said Friday that it would continue to work to secure the release of hostages. “We are working as hard today as we were yesterday and the day before and the day before to get these hostages home,” National Security Council strategic communications coordinator John Kirby told CNN. Kirby maintained the US still supports a humanitarian pause – or pauses – in fighting for the release of hostages, but refused to discuss Israeli military operations. It comes after US President Joe Biden earlier this week denied asking Israel to hold off a ground invasion while hostages remain in captivity.
What the IDF is saying: Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari told reporters Friday to "disregard rumors" when asked about a possible deal to release the hostages in Gaza, saying that "any relevant information will be given to the families first once it’s confirmed, and then we’ll notify the public." Hagari said the IDF had notified the families of 310 fallen IDF soldiers and 229 hostages of the expanding ground operations in the Gaza Strip. “We’re committed to the national task of returning all hostages,” he said.
Earlier reports of progress: Prior to the expanded ground campaign, diplomatic sources familiar with the negotiations told CNN that there has been “significant progress” in the talks, but there were issues still remaining. A US official told CNN there had been progress on the hostages but it’s still “all very touch and go.” They voiced caution around the idea that there has been a “breakthrough.” Qatar and Egypt have been mediating between Israel, the US and Hamas to release the hostages.
Four freed: Hamas has released a total of four hostages since its October 7 attacks. Last Friday two American hostages, Judith Tai Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter, Natalie Raanan, were released following negotiations between Qatar and Hamas. On Monday, Yocheved Lifshitz, a frail 85-year-old grandmother, was released alongside her neighbor and friend Nurit Cooper, 79. Lifshitz said she "went through hell" and described being taken to a network of tunnels.
Scores remain captive: Among those being held are people from countries including Mexico, Brazil, the United States, Germany and Thailand, as well as Israeli civilians and soldiers. Among them is Mia Schem, a 21-year-old French-Israeli woman, who last week appeared in a video clip released by Hamas. Speaking into the camera, Schem, who looks pale but is sitting up straight with her head held high, says she was injured and taken to Gaza, then pleads to be returned to her family.
12:12 p.m. ET, October 28, 2023
Hundreds of demonstrators arrested at New York's Grand Central Terminal on Friday, NYPD says
From CNN's Skylar Harris in New York
NYPD officers arrest a protester during a demonstration calling for a cease-fire amid war between Israel and Hamas, at Grand Central Station in New York City, on October 27. Kena Betancur/AFP/Getty Images
Around 300 people were arrested Friday after a large group of demonstrators from a Jewish group gathered in New York City's Grand Central Terminal calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, according to police.
A spokesperson for the New York Police Department told CNN the arrests range from charges of disorderly conduct to trespassing. Some were given a criminal court summons.
The NYPD said the exact number of charges is unknown at this time. Police were not able to estimate the total number of demonstrators in the area Friday evening.
12:39 p.m. ET, October 28, 2023
Israel reissues call for people to evacuate northern Gaza
From CNN’s Jo Shelley in London
Palestinian children sit in a vehicle loaded with household items in Khan Younis refugee camp, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, on October 28. Mohammed Abed/AFP/Getty Images
The Israeli military has reiterated its call for residents in northern Gazato evacuate.
In a video posted on X, formerly Twitter, on Saturday, Israel Defense Forcesspokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said, "This is an urgent military advisory from the Israel Defence Forces. For your immediate safety, we urge all residents of northern Gaza and Gaza City to temporarily relocate south.”
Hagari made reference to what he described as a coming IDF operation against Hamas in Gaza.
“The impending IDF operation is set to neutralize the threat of Hamas with precision and intensity,” he said. “To the residents of northern Gaza and Gaza City, your window to act is closing... Move south. This is not a mere precaution, it is an urgent plea."
Some background: The latest warnings from Israel came after the IDF said Friday it would expand its ground operation following the October 7 Hamas attacks.
A ground offensive has been widely expected following the attacks, but it does not appear as though any major operation aimed at seizing and holding significant amounts of the territory is yet underway.
12:07 p.m. ET, October 28, 2023
UN human rights commissioner: Large-scale Israeli ground operations could have "catastrophic consequences"
From CNN’s Livvy Doherty, Abeer Salman and Eyad Kourdi
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk warned on Saturday of potentially “catastrophic consequences” in Gaza if Israel pushes further with large-scale ground operations.
“Thousands have already died, many of them children. Given the manner in which military operations have been conducted until now, in the context of the 56-year-old occupation, I am raising alarm about the possibly catastrophic consequences of large-scale ground operations in Gaza and the potential for thousands more civilians to die” he said in a statement.
The commissioner said that Israel’s bombardment of Gaza Friday night took “this terrible crisis to a new level of violence and pain” and that damaging communications infrastructure put the population of Gaza in “grave danger.”
He said more violence was not the answer and called on “all parties as well as third States” to do what they could to de-escalate the conflict.
Some context: The Israeli military said ground forces were inside Gaza Saturday morning, after announcing Friday it would expand its ground operation following the October 7 Hamas attacks that left 1,400 dead and over 200 taken hostage.
Gaza residents told CNN that Friday’s airstrikes were the most intense they had experienced since Israel began to retaliate against Hamas around three weeks ago.
Since then, at least 7,650 people have been killed and over 19,000 injured in Israeli attacks on Gaza, according to figures released Saturday by the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Ramallah drawn from sources in the Hamas-controlled enclave.
10:21 a.m. ET, October 28, 2023
Health workers, patients, and civilians in Gaza spent night "in darkness and fear," says WHO
From CNN’s Catherine Nicholls in London
The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Saturday that health workers, patients, and civilians in Gaza spent the night “in darkness and fear,” due to a communications and electrical blackout across the Gaza strip.
“During a night of intense bombardment and ground incursions in Gaza, with reports of hostilities still continuing, health workers, patients and civilians have been subject to a total communication and electrical blackout,” WHO wrote in post on X.
According to WHO, hospitals across Gaza are operating at maximum capacity, unable to take in new patients whilst also “sheltering thousands of civilians.”
“There are more [people] wounded every hour,” WHO said. “But ambulances cannot reach them in the communications blackout. Morgues are full. More than half of the dead are women and children.”
WHO reiterated its call for “immediate humanitarian ceasefire,” writing that safe passage must also be ensured for “desperately needed medical supplies, fuel, water and food into and across Gaza.”
“WHO appeals to the humanity in all those who have the power to do so to end the fighting now, in line with the UN resolution adopted yesterday, calling for a humanitarian truce, as well as the immediate and unconditional release of all civilians held captive.”
Some context: Many are struggling to get in touch with people in Gaza after communications links were badly disrupted by an aerial assault overnight.
The last standing major internet operator in the region, Paltel, experienced damage to its international routes, according to NetBlocks, an internet outage monitoring firm based in London.
10:23 a.m. ET, October 28, 2023
Families of Israeli hostages fearful as military expands ground operation
From CNN's Amir Tal and Zeena Saifi
Israeli tanks and troops near the border with Gaza on October 28 in Sderot, Israel. Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
A group lobbying for the families of Israeli hostages being held by Hamas say they are racked with anxiety that Israel’s expanded ground operation will put the hostages in more danger.
"This night was the most terrible of all nights. It was a long and sleepless night, against the backdrop of the major IDF operation in the Strip, and absolute uncertainty regarding the fate of the hostages held there, who were also subject to the heavy bombings,” the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said in a statement on Saturday. “Anxiety, frustration, and especially enormous anger that none of the war cabinet bothered to meet with the families of the hostages to explain one thing - whether the ground operation endangers the well-being of the 229 hostages in Gaza,” they continued.
Rachel Goldberg and Jon Polin, parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, a 23-year-old American who was wounded and kidnapped by Hamas at an Israeli music festival, said in a separate statement that the expansion of Israel’s ground operation in Gaza was “of extreme concern to us.”
“We pray for the safety and security of the Israeli soldiers on the frontlines as they begin their mission and the safety of all hostages and innocent lives. We implore all world leaders, especially of the 33 countries represented among the hostages, to take urgent and immediate action to bring all the hostages safely home. There is not a moment to waste,” they said.
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari told reporters on Friday that they had notified the families of the hostages about the expanded operations.
Some context: The Israeli military's expansion of its ground operation in Gaza has thrown into question the fate of the more than 200 hostages who remain inside the besieged enclave.
Hamas has released a total of four hostages since its October 7 attacks, but the IDF estimates that 224 remain trapped inside Gaza.
The hostages include Israeli civilians and soldiers as well as foreign nationals and children as young as 9 months. Among them are scores of hostages holding foreign passports from 25 different countries, including Mexico, Brazil, the United States, Germany and Thailand, according to the Israeli government.
