Israel stated it has killed over 400 Hamas militants in retaliatory strikes in Gaza after the Palestinian group's deadly surprise 'Operation Al-Aqsa Flood'. Israel's 'Operation Iron Swords' against Hamas is still underway in 8 places. Dozens of militants have been captured by the Israeli military. PM Netanyahu earlier vowed to turn Hamas hideouts into "rubble". A military briefing said number of hostages taken by Hamas will shape the war's future. Hamas militants fired 3000+ rockets and unprecedently infiltrated up to 15 miles beyond Gaza on Saturday. Gunfights and hostage crises occurred as the assault extended to around 22 locations. Israel and Hamas have fought 4 wars since 2007 when the militant group seized Gaza. The latest flare-up signals a new phase in the longstanding conflict.

Videos emerged showing celebrations in London after Hamas launched deadly attacks against Israel, killing over 300. People were seen cheering and holding Palestinian flags. In response, London's Metropolitan Police said they are aware of incidents shared on social media about the conflict. They stated an appropriate policing plan is in place to balance protests with minimizing disruption. Patrolling has been increased to reassure communities after Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick retweeted a video of the celebrations. Earlier reports said celebrations also occurred in Iran, calling Hamas' offensive a "proud operation". The police aim to prevent tensions from escalating locally due to the conflict.

Hamas launched an unprecedented rocket attack against Israel, firing over 5,000 rockets from Gaza in just 20 minutes. Israel's vaunted Iron Dome air defense system, which intercepts incoming rockets, was overwhelmed by the scale of the assault. Iron Dome uses radar to detect trajectories of incoming rockets and launches interceptor missiles to destroy them. It has a 90% success rate but struggled to cope with the massive salvo from Hamas. Hamas has worked to increase its rockets' range and overwhelm Iron Dome through saturation attacks. Despite upgrades, Iron Dome could not fully protect Israel from the scale of Hamas' latest onslaught. Israel has deployed at least 10 Iron Dome batteries since 2011 to combat rocket attacks from Gaza.

Former US President Donald Trump accused President Joe Biden of "indirectly funding" the deadly Hamas militant attacks on Israel. Trump blamed President Biden for emboldening terrorists and making the US appear weak during deadly Hamas attacks on Israel. At a rally, Trump vowed to cut off funding to "Palestinian terrorists" if elected. He claimed the assaults were enabled by Biden being a "really weak leader". Trump asserted that US taxpayer dollars "indirectly funded" the strikes via sanctions relief to Iran, drawing White House denials. Biden deputy press secretary Andrew Bates called it a "shameful lie", noting the funds can only buy humanitarian supplies. Trump said the attacks must be crushed and avenged, while criticizing Biden for undermining US strength.

The 27 pilgrims from Meghalaya stranded in Israel amid clashes with Palestine are believed to be leaving Bethlehem for Cairo before returning to India. Sources said the group may travel escorted by the Israeli army along the Suez Canal to Egypt, which is 10 hours away. Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma confirmed he is coordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs to ensure the safe return of the state's residents who went to Jerusalem for a holy pilgrimage but got stuck due to rising tensions. Sangma assured the families of the stranded pilgrims that the Meghalaya government is making every effort, in close coordination with the Centre, to secure their protected passage back home. The pilgrims' safety and well-being are of paramount concern, he stated.

The death toll from a powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake in Afghanistan has risen to over 2,000 people as the Taliban plead for urgent aid. Several villages were flattened with hundreds buried under rubble, prompting rescue efforts. The quake struck western Afghanistan on Saturday, centered 40km from Herat city. Aftershocks as strong as 6.3 magnitude followed, causing extensive damage. At least 465 houses were destroyed and 135 damaged per UN tallies. The Taliban deployed ambulances and urged aid groups to reach affected areas quickly to assist the injured and provide food and shelter to survivors. With telephone lines down in Herat, details remain scarce from remote impacted villages. The earthquake is one of Afghanistan's deadliest in decades as the country grapples with the disaster.

Distressing footage has emerged showing 25-year-old Noa Argamani being forcibly kidnapped by Hamas gunmen from an Israeli music festival amid screaming pleas to spare her life. Noa's boyfriend was also seen roughly handled in the video before both went missing after the kidnapping at the festival down south. The Israeli Embassy in the US tweeted that the figure of Israeli civilians and soldiers taken hostage is around 100. It also claimed over 300 Israelis were killed and 1800+ injured in the conflict. Other disturbing videos circulated on social media showed bodies of people in military attire and dead passengers on a highway as the humanitarian toll from the crisis keeps rising.    

Israel thanked India for its support after the country was hit by deadly rocket attacks from Palestinian militant group Hamas. The hashtag "India is with Israel" trended on Twitter as Israel's foreign ministry shared a post expressing gratitude to India. This comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the Hamas assault, conveying solidarity with victims and their families. PM Modi said India's thoughts and prayers were with the innocent victims. In response, Israel's ambassador to India Naor Gilon thanked PM Modi, stating that India's moral support is greatly appreciated. Online, many Indians also voiced backing for Israel as the country reels from the unprecedented attack by Hamas fighters, with the two nations affirming their friendly ties.

Pop superstar Bruno Mars left Israel on Saturday after being forced to cancel a concert in Tel Aviv due to rocket attacks by Palestinian militant group Hamas. Mars and his 60-member entourage spent several hours at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport before flying out to Athens, according to local entertainment show "Good Evening with Guy Pines". They had been scheduled to perform in Tel Aviv but called off the show as southern and central Israel came under heavy rocket fire from Gaza. Mars is now headed to Qatar to continue his world tour. He became the latest artist caught up in the escalating Israel-Hamas conflict that has put the region on war footing.

In stark contrast to celebrations twenty-four hours ago where people in Gaza were seen celebrating Hamas firing thousands of rockets into Israel, the town now lies shrouded in black smoke as nonstop explosions rock the territory. There is no power and water since Israel halted supplies, as reported by the BBC. Citizens remain indoors amid heavy airstrikes flattening buildings, including the Watan Tower, the hub for internet providers. Israel said its forces are still operating in eight locations, primarily to confirm they are cleared of Palestinian militants. However, Hamas claims it is engaged in fierce fighting inside Israel, the exact situation remains unverified. With Gaza plunged into darkness and many trapped without basic amenities, the humanitarian situation looks dire on both sides as Hamas vows to sustain its violent confrontation with massive Israeli bombardment.