Shaping up to be the deadliest of five Gaza wars on both sides, the conflict between Israel and Palestinian military group Hamas is now in its 16th day. The death toll in Gaza is said to be around 4,651 with an additional 14,254 injured. As Israel warns that it is stepping up its attack on the Gaza Strip, here are some of the latest updates from the war:

# India sends humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza

India's humanitarian aid for Gaza has arrived in Egypt, with Ambassador Ajit Gupte handing over relief materials to the Egyptian Red Crescent for onward transmission to Palestine.

This aid includes medical supplies and disaster relief materials. Read more here.

# Gaza water crisis intensifies post conflict

Gaza's water supply was already short of meeting the daily per capita water consumption minimum. With the escalation of conflict, the water crisis in Gaza has intensified to the point where it's now deemed a critical matter of survival, as stated by the United Nations

# Operation Ajay brings 6th flight of 143 people back from Israel

India on Sunday brought back 143 people including two Nepalese nationals from Israel.

India launched Operation Ajay on October 11 to facilitate the return from Israel of those Indians who wished to come back home given the Hamas-Israel conflict.

"6th #OperationAjay flight lands in New Delhi.143 passengers including 2 Nepalese citizens arrived onboard the flight," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in a post on 'X'.

The passengers were received at the airport by Union Minister Faggan Singh Kulaste.

More than 1,200 people returned from Israel in the previous five chartered flights.

# Death toll and wounded update

As per an AFP update quoting Hamas, at least 55 people were killed overnight after Israel stepped up its Gaza strikes.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said Sunday that the death toll in Gaza had reached at least 4,651 people, with another 14,254 people wounded in the besieged territory.

The ministry said 93 Palestinians were also killed in violence and Israeli raids in the occupied West Bank since Hamas militants stormed into Israel on October 7. More than 1,650 others were wounded, it added.

More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed, mostly in the initial Hamas attack. In addition, 203 people were believed captured by Hamas during the incursion and taken into Gaza, the Israeli military has said.

# Israel says it's stepping up attacks on the Gaza Strip

Israeli warplanes have struck targets across the Gaza Strip as well as two airports in Syria and a mosque in the occupied West Bank allegedly used by militants. At the same time, a second convoy of humanitarian aid reportedly began crossing into Gaza from Egypt on Sunday afternoon.

Israel's military spokesman said the country is stepping up its attacks, and there are growing expectations of a ground offensive.

# US, UK and allies support Israel, urge it to uphold humanitarian laws

Leaders of the US, the UK, France, Canada and Italy supported Israel's right to defend itself against the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Still, they urged the Jewish state to uphold international humanitarian laws and protect civilians.

The White House issued a joint statement on Sunday after US President Joe Biden initiated a call with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, France President Emmanuel Macron, Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany, Italy Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and UK PM Rishi Sunak. Read more here.

President Biden and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu also "affirmed" in a call Sunday that there will be a "continued flow" of aid into Gaza, the White House said, after the first convoys of critical assistance entered the enclave since Hamas launched its October 7 attack.

With agency inputs.

(Edited by : Ayushi Agarwal)

First Published:Oct 23, 2023 10:07 AM IST