Israel continued its deadly airstrikes on Gaza as the death toll passed 1,500. Israel's military ordered 1.1 million Palestinians in northern Gaza to evacuate within 24 hours. Appealing for the order to be rescinded, a UN spokesperson said that such a movement could lead to “devastating humanitarian consequences” which could “transform what is already a tragedy into a calamitous situation”. Israel showed US and NATO images of dead civilians, blaming Hamas, as it tries to bolster international support. Meanwhile, Iran warned the conflict could spread if Israel's offensive continues.

The first charter flight to repatriate Indian citizens stranded in Israel amid the ongoing war arrived in New Delhi on Friday morning. The flight - carrying 212 Indian passengers including an infant - took off on Thursday night from the Ben Gurion airport in Israel under ‘Operation Ajay’. According to reports, the passengers were chosen on a ‘first come first serve’ basis. The government launched ‘Operation Ajay’ on Wednesday to bring back stranded citizens from Israel - which is witnessing fierce fighting with the terrorist group Hamas. This came after Air India and other airlines suspended all its commercial operations to and from Israel as the war began on October 7.

The UK will deploy surveillance aircraft and two Royal Navy ships to the eastern Mediterranean to support Israel, No 10 said. The aircraft will track regional threats like arms transfers from tomorrow. The military package includes helicopters, planes, marines. PM Sunak said it will prevent escalation. British forces will deliver practical support to Israel, offer deterrence and assurance. A Navy task group will provide humanitarian aid next week. Sunak said the UK must ensure the Israel "horror" is not repeated after Hamas killed 1300+ Israelis and took 150+ hostages. Over 1300 have died in Gaza from Israeli airstrikes. 

Israel's PM office shared disturbing photos of dead babies, claiming they were shown by Netanyahu to visiting US Secretary Blinken as murdered and burnt by Hamas. The post comes amid controversy over Israel's assertion that Hamas beheaded babies, seemingly echoed by Biden who said he saw photos of this. Later a White House official walked back Biden's comment, clarifying neither he nor US officials saw such photos. Biden referred to Israel reports. Hamas denied the claims as lies about Palestinians and resistance. The photos' release appears aimed at bolstering the narrative about Hamas' atrocities amid doubts on the beheading claims.

Israel announced Gaza will get no water or fuel until Hamas releases Israeli hostages, as Energy Minister Katz said no aid will enter until the abductees return. Hamas reportedly holds 130+ hostages. Earlier, Israel imposed a total siege, severing supplies, after Hamas killed 1,300 Israelis. Gaza authorities say 1,200+ Palestinians have died in Israel's strikes. Gaza's sole power plant shut as fuel ran out after Israel cut supplies. Egypt is in intensive talks on delivering aid via its closed Rafah crossing. But Cairo resisted exodus proposals warning of consequences for Palestinians. The blockade highlights humanitarian crisis even as Israel vows no succor until hostage release.

At least six Hindu temples have been broken into in Ontario, Canada since September. Three burglaries occurred this month at temples in Pickering, Ajax, and Oshawa, as reported by Durham Regional Police. Additionally, three more temples in Brampton, Caledon, and Mississauga were also targeted in September. Police described the suspect as 5'9", 200 lbs, wearing a blue mask, black hoodie, green pants, and limping. CCTV footage shows the intruder walking with a limp. The affected temples are cooperating with authorities in the investigation. Police are working to apprehend those responsible for the security breaches, though no suspects have been identified yet. (Image Source: Hindu Heritage Centre)

Israeli airstrikes targeted Syria's two main airports in Damascus and Aleppo on Thursday, according to Syrian state media. This marks the first such strikes since the weekend Hamas assault on Israel triggered heavy fighting. Israel has repeatedly grounded flights at the airports controlled by the Syrian government during more than a decade of conflict. The latest strikes came as Hamas and Israel continued trading fire for the sixth day after Hamas militants killed over 1,000 Israeli civilians. They also occurred as U.S. Secretary of State Blinken visited Israel. Israel rarely comments on individual strikes it carries out on Syria, but it has repeatedly said it would not allow its arch-foe Iran, which supports Assad's government, to expand its footprint there. Iran, which backs Hamas, on Saturday celebrated Hamas' assault on Israel, though it insisted it was not involved in it.

MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi stated India's longstanding support for an independent Palestinian state at a press conference on Thursday. Regarding the humanitarian situation in Israel-Gaza, he said there is a universal obligation to observe humanitarian law and fight terrorism. He announced the first evacuation flight from Israel under 'Operation Ajay' is arriving in India today with 230 Indians. Bagchi said India's main focus currently is safely bringing back citizens from Israel, with approximately 18,000 Indians there. He confirmed one Indian casualty so far and stated there are 4 Indians in Gaza and 12 in the West Bank. India is working to rescue stranded citizens in Israel amid the conflict with Hamas under 'Operation Ajay'.

An Israeli couple, Itai and Hadar Berdichevsky, hid their 10-month-old twins in a shelter before being killed by Hamas gunmen who broke into their home in Kfar Gaza. The twins were left alone for over 12 hours until rescued unharmed by Israeli soldiers, according to Deputy Ambassador of Israel in Cyprus Rotem Segev. The parents, both 30, fought fiercely with the Hamas attackers before being brutally murdered. The tragic incident highlights the horror of the Israel-Gaza conflict, as the young couple made a last brave act to protect their children, who are now orphans. As per New York Post, the babies were rescued unharmed and were later handed to their grandmother. (Image by @RotemSegev on X)

A family in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh has appealed to the state government to help bring their son Mohit Randhawa, daughter-in-law Jaideep Kaur, and granddaughter Keerat back safely from Israel. Mohit, a PhD from IIT-Roorkee, is stranded there amid fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas. His father Omveer said the family is worried about their safety, as Mohit's wife is pregnant. Mohit is currently pursuing postdoctoral studies at the Zuckerberg Institute in Israel. The family last spoke to him when he said he locked his family in an apartment when the fighting broke out, but they are appealing for government help to bring them home. (Image source: Oliver Fredrick on X)