Over 8,500 Palestinians have died in Israeli strikes after military group Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,400 people. As the Israeli forces push deeper and deeper into Gaza, here are the latest updates from the war:

#Indian-origin soldier among Israelis killed in Gaza

A 20-year-old Indian-origin Israeli soldier was among the Israeli combatants killed while fighting in Gaza, community members and the Mayor of the town said on Wednesday. Staff-Sgt. Halel Solomon was from the southern Israeli town of Dimona. Dimona is a town in the south of Israel identified with Israel's nuclear reactor but some also describe it as little India given the large concentration of Jews from India in the township. Indian community members told .

#15 soldiers killed in Gaza since Tuesday, says Israel army

Fifteen Israeli soldiers have been killed fighting in Gaza since Tuesday, a spokesman for the country's military told AFP. Israeli troops have been fighting Hamas militants on the ground since Friday, backed by heavy air strikes which have killed multiple civilians in the Palestinian territory.

#Gaza crossing opens for foreign passport holders and wounded as Israeli strikes pound refugee camp

After more than three weeks of siege, the first Palestinians dozens of dual passport holders and seriously injured were allowed to leave Gaza, where Israeli airstrikes pounded a refugee camp for the second day Wednesday..

# Qatar mediates deal for safe evacuation of Gaza's foreign passport holders

Qatar has mediated an agreement between Egypt, Israel and Hamas, in coordination with the U.S., to allow for the movement of foreign passport holders and some critically injured people out of besieged Gaza, a source briefed on deal told Reuters on Wednesday.

There is no timeline for how long the vital Rafah border crossing will remain open for evacuation, the source added.

# Israel Defence Forces: Intercepted 'aerial threat' over Red Sea

The Israel Defense Forces announced on Wednesday that their aerial defence system successfully intercepted an aerial threat in the Red Sea region, located to the south of Eilat. They confirmed that this incident did not pose any danger to civilians, and there was no breach of Israeli territory.

Taking to X, Israel Defence Forces said, "The IDF Aerial Defense Array intercepted an aerial threat that was identified in the area of the Red Sea, south of the city of Eilat, a short while ago. No threat was posed to civilians and no infiltration into Israeli territory was identified."

# Blink to visit Israel on Friday: US State Department

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will begin a new trip to the Middle East on Friday, a spokesperson said, as Israel's war against Hamas in response to the October 7 attack intensifies.

"Secretary Blinken will travel to Israel on Friday for meetings with members of the Israeli government, and then will make other stops in the region," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters Tuesday.

He accompanied President Joe Biden to meetings with Israeli government officials and victims during the US leader's one-day visit to Tel Aviv on October 18.

# Bolivia severs diplomatic ties with Israel as Chile and Colombia recall their ambassadors

Bolivia's government severed diplomatic relations with Israel on Tuesday, accusing it of carrying out “crimes against humanity” in Gaza, and Chile and Colombia recalled their ambassadors to Israel as they criticised the Israeli military offensive against Hamas militants.

"Bolivia decided to break diplomatic relations with the state of Israel in repudiation and condemnation of the aggressive and disproportionate Israeli military offensive taking place in the Gaza Strip,” Freddy Mamani, Bolivia’s deputy foreign minister, said at a news conference.

Chile decided to recall its ambassador “in the face of the unacceptable violations of international humanitarian law committed by Israel in the Gaza Strip,” the South American country's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Colombia's president, Gustavo Petro, also announced he was recalling his country's ambassador to Israel.

# Qatar warns expanded Israeli strikes 'undermine' mediation

Qatar has condemned Israel’s bombing of Gaza’s largest refugee camp and warned that expanded strikes on the besieged Palestinian enclave would "undermine mediation and de-escalation efforts," AFP reports citing the official Qatar News Agency.

The Qatari foreign ministry described the strike on Jabalia camp as a "new massacre against the defenceless Palestinian people," warning against "the expansion of Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip to include civilian targets," the wire service added.

# Hamas to release foreign hostages

As Israeli bombardment in the Palestinian territory continues, Hamas on Tuesday said it will free foreign hostages “in the next few days” and vowed to turn Gaza into a “graveyard” for Israeli’s military.

“We have informed intermediaries that we will release a certain number of foreigners in the next few days,” Abu Obeida, a spokesman for Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, said in a televised address.

Five hostages have been released to date, including four after negotiations through a diplomatic backchannel and one following an operation by the Israeli army.

(Edited by : Ayushi Agarwal)

First Published:Nov 1, 2023 8:56 AM IST