Israel-Hamas War LIVE Updates: Israel intercepts rocket as Hamas truce nears deadline

10:18 (IST)

Israel-Hamas War LIVE Updates

Israel drawing up plans for global campaign to assassinate Hamas leaders — report

According to the Wall Street Journal, Israel intends to seek out Hamas leaders around the world once it ceases battling the group in Gaza.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has directed spy agencies to devise plans to murder the group's senior commanders living outside of Gaza, including those in Turkey, Qatar, and abroad, according to the daily, citing Israeli authorities.

In the 1970s, Israel launched a multi-year campaign to kill Palestinian terrorists implicated in the Munich Olympics tragedy.

10:15 (IST)

Israel-Hamas War LIVE Updates

Blast heard in Sderot footage

In footage from Sderot, a boom can be heard immediately after the town's "red alert" rocket siren rings, signalling that a rocket assault occurred.

⚠️The sirens in Sderot#Israel #Gaza pic.twitter.com/3oP4VXMmLP— Swords of Steel (@ignis_fatum) December 1, 2023

10:10 (IST)

Israel-Hamas War LIVE Updates

Israel intercepts rocket as gunfire, explosions in north Gaza reported

The Israeli military claimed it intercepted a missile fired from Gaza early Friday, while Hamas-affiliated media reported gunfire and explosions in the coastal strip's north minutes before a deadline to extend a seven-day truce was supposed to expire.

Air raid sirens wailed in Israeli neighbourhoods near the Gaza border as the 7 a.m. (0500 GMT) deadline for extending the cease-fire approached.

According to the Shehab News Agency, explosions and gunfire are possible in the northern Gaza Strip. Other Hamas-affiliated media outlets reported hearing military and drone planes flying over Gaza City. Other information was not readily accessible.

09:57 (IST)

Israel-Hamas War LIVE Updates

Hamas open to truce extension as expiry nears

On Friday, Israel and Hamas reached an agreement in which additional captives were released from Gaza in return for Palestinian detainees.

The terrorist organisation stated that it was prepared to prolong the cease-fire further, and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged that the halt be maintained.

However, there was little indication early Friday that the two sides would agree to prolong the cease-fire for an eighth day.

09:50 (IST)

Israel-Hamas War LIVE Updates

Israel intercepts rocket as Hamas truce nears deadline

As a 7 a.m. (0500 GMT) deadline to prolong a cease-fire with Hamas approached, Israel's military claimed it intercepted a missile launched from Gaza, setting off air raid sirens in Israeli neighbourhoods.

The Palestinian terrorist organisation made no immediate comment on the incident, which Israel's Kan public TV claimed as the first since an Israel-Hamas truce began on November 24.

According to Hamas-affiliated media, explosions and gunfire are possible in the northern Gaza Strip ahead of the truce deadline. Other information was not readily accessible.

09:43 (IST)

Israel-Hamas War LIVE Updates

Israel’s president visits UAE, asks for help to free hostages

On Thursday, Israeli President Isaac Herzog requested UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to use his "political weight" to assist rescue all Israeli captives held by the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza.

According to a statement released by the Israeli president's media office, Herzog made the request during a meeting with Sheikh Mohamed in Dubai.

“The President appealed to his friend Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to employ his full political weight to promote and speed up the return home of the hostages,” it said.

09:36 (IST)

Israel-Hamas War LIVE Updates

Families reunite with 17 Thai hostages freed by Hamas at homecoming at Bangkok airport

In an emotional homecoming at Bangkok's international airport on Thursday, seventeen Thai labourers freed from the terrorist Hamas organisation were met by family and friends, authorities, and media.

The 17 are among the 23 Thais released so far, with six remaining in Israel temporarily because physicians decided they were not yet able to depart. According to Thai officials, nine more Thai hostages are still being held in Gaza.

09:22 (IST)

Israel-Hamas War LIVE Updates

'Let's go home': Thai hostage couple has emotional reunion with family

Natthawaree Mulkan walked through the airport arrival gates and straight into her mother's arms, both crying with joy, meeting for the first time after losing touch for nearly two months when she was taken hostage by Hamas on October 7.

"I’m happy. Let’s go back home," she told her mother at an airport in Khon Kaen province in northeastern Thailand.

A relative tied holy threads on Natthawaree's wrist and on the wrist of her partner Boonthoom Phankhongwas in a Thai homecoming ritual.

The two were among the first 10 Thai hostages freed by Hamas during the first truce of the war in Gaza.

A total of 23 Thai hostages have been released with nine still in captivity.

08:54 (IST)

Israel-Hamas War LIVE Updates

Israel was aware of Hamas’ attack plan over a year ago, New York Times reports

The New York Times reported Thursday that Israeli officials got a paper revealing Hamas' battle plan for its October 7 terror strike more than a year before the terrorist organisation carried out the operation, citing documents, emails, and interviews.

According to the Times, which read the translated paper, the roughly 40-page plan did not identify a date for the attack but detailed "point by point" the type of lethal invasion that Hamas carried out in Israeli territory in October.

According to the Times, Israeli military and intelligence authorities disregarded the idea, believing it would be too difficult for Hamas to carry out.

08:51 (IST)

Israel-Hamas War LIVE Updates

Man indicted over antisemitic threats aimed at Nevada senator

According to court documents, a federal grand jury indicted a Las Vegas man detained last month on suspicion of making antisemitic threats against US Senator Jacky Rosen and her family, as well as the family of another US senator.

Rosen, a Democrat from Nevada, is Jewish and has been an outspoken supporter of Israel, including support for US funding to Israel. Though the indictment does not name her, Rosen's office acknowledged to The Associated Press that she and her family were targeted.

John Miller, 43, is accused of intimidating a federal official and influencing, obstructing, or retaliating against a federal official by threatening a family member on two counts. According to court documents, Miller is also accused of threatening the family of another unidentified US senator.

08:34 (IST)

Israel-Hamas War LIVE Updates

Blinken calls on Israel to follow international law in war

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stepped up efforts for Israel to follow international law and protect civilians while fighting Hamas in Gaza.

On his third trip to the area since the conflict began, Blinken spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other high-ranking officials. He expressed the hope that the cease-fire may be extended and that more captives could be freed.

Blinken also stated that if Israel restarts the conflict and advances towards southern Gaza to pursue Hamas, it must do so in "compliance with international humanitarian law" and with "a clear plan in place" to protect civilians.

08:34 (IST)

Israel-Hamas War LIVE Updates

Blinken calls on Israel to follow international law in war

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stepped up efforts for Israel to follow international law and protect civilians while fighting Hamas in Gaza.

On his third trip to the area since the conflict began, Blinken spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other high-ranking officials. He expressed the hope that the cease-fire may be extended and that more captives could be freed.

Blinken also stated that if Israel restarts the conflict and advances towards southern Gaza to pursue Hamas, it must do so in "compliance with international humanitarian law" and with "a clear plan in place" to protect civilians.

08:21 (IST)

Israel-Hamas War LIVE Updates

Israel and Hamas agree to keep truce going for eighth day

According to the Wall Street Journal, quoting Egyptian authorities, Israel and Hamas have agreed to prolong the cease-fire for an eighth day.

There has been no formal announcement of a ceasefire extension from either side, or from Egypt, Qatar, or the United States, which have spearheaded the pause discussions.

According to the source, an additional day would likely result in the release of another ten Israeli captives.

Earlier, a source close to the Palestinian militant organisation Hamas told AFP that it was "willing to extend the truce."

08:12 (IST)

Israel-Hamas War LIVE Updates

Israel releases 30 more Palestinian prisoners

A busload of 30 Palestinian prisoners released by Israel has been welcomed home in the West Bank.

The bus arrived early Friday in the city of Ramallah, hours after Hamas militants released eight Israeli hostages after eight weeks of captivity in the Gaza Strip.

Dozens of men, some holding green Hamas flags, greeted the prisoners. The men were hugged and the crowd chanted, “God is great.”

The exchanges have been taking place each night since last Friday as part of a cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas.

07:56 (IST)

Israel-Hamas War LIVE Updates

More Israeli hostages, Palestinian prisoners are released under truce

Eight Israeli hostages were released from Hamas captivity in the Gaza strip on Thursday as part of a temporary cease-fire deal that has lasted for seven days, the Israeli military said.

Israel freed 30 Palestinian prisoners in the early hours of Friday under the truce deal, which has paused the deadliest fighting in decades between Israel and Palestinians.

International pressure has mounted for the truce to be upheld as long as possible after weeks of Israeli bombardment and ground campaign following Hamas’ deadly Oct. 7 attack on Israel that triggered the war.