In the West Bank, Israeli settlers raided several places in the Masafer Yatta area, throwing stones at homes and stealing solar panels and batteries. Israeli forces shot and killed a Palestinian man during a raid in Jericho and a Palestinian child succumbed to injuries sustained from Israeli forces on 10/16 in Far’un. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Jericho, Qalandia, and Huwwara, injuring 5. 23 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Bayt Awa, Bethlehem, Jenin, Ramallah, Birzeit, Silwad, and Qalandia. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces shot and killed a Palestinian in Isawiya. In Gaza, Israeli airstrikes killed more than 400 Palestinians and Israel assassinated the leader of Hamas’ aerial forces Murad Abu Murad. Rockets were fired at Israel; no fatalities were reported. In Lebanon, Israeli combat helicopters attacked areas around the Blue Line, reportedly killing 2 civilians in Chebaa. A Hezbollah member was also killed by Israel. Israel said 3 militants were killed after crossing into Israel. In Syria, Israeli forces injured 5 in an airstrike on Aleppo International Airport. Rockets were reportedly also launched from Syria and Israel fired artillery shells at Syria near the Golan Heights. (AP 10/7; AJ, HA 10/13; AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, HA, REU, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/14; HA, WAFA 10/15)
The Gaza Ministry of Health said as of 10:30 p.m. at least 2,228 Palestinians had been killed and 8,744 had been injured in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza since 10/7. In addition, Israeli media reported that 1,500 Palestinian militants have been killed near Gaza. 54 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7, including 11 children. More than 1,150 had been injured, including at least 300 with live ammunition. Israeli officials recorded no new fatalities, leaving the Israeli death toll at around 1,300 Israelis and foreign nationals; 3,436 have been injured since 10/7. Hamas said 9 captives, including 4 foreigners, were killed in Israeli airstrikes in the past 24 hours. The UN reported that 423,378 Palestinians have been displaced since 10/7 and that since 11 p.m. on 10/12 there has been a complete electricity blackout due to the Israeli blockade. The UN acknowledged that the number of displaced Palestinians was likely much higher because of the Israel order for Palestinians in the north to leave for the south. At least 10,607 housing units have been destroyed in Israeli airstrikes since 10/7. (AJ 10/13; AJ, AJ, AJ, HA, UNOCHA, WAFA 10/14)
UNRWA called on Israel to protect all civilians in UNRWA facilities across Gaza, saying many are unable to flee south as Israel has demanded. Israel gave the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) until 4 p.m. to evacuate al-Quds hospital in Gaza City. The PRCS said it could not evacuate the hospital. 2 other hospitals in the northern part of Gaza, El-Uda and Kamal Adwan Children’s hospital, said they would not evacuate after receiving similar orders. The Gaza Ministry of Health called on Egypt to open the Rafah crossing so casualties could be evacuated. It was reported that the Rafah crossing would be open for Palestinian Americans between 12 p.m. and 5 p.m.; the evacuation was later delayed. (AJ 10/13; AJ, AJ, AJ, HA, WAFA, WAFA. WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/14)
The Israeli military said it was preparing for an extensive military campaign in Gaza that would include “an integrated and coordinated attack by air, sea, and land.” (AJ 10/13; AP, REU 10/14; HA 10/15)
The U.S. deployed a second aircraft carrier to the Mediterranean. The U.S. also sent more F-15 fighter jets to the Middle East. (AJ, HA 10/13; AP 10/14; HA, REU 10/15; HA 10/16)
Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh met with Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Qatar. Haniyeh said in a televised speech that Palestinians would not leave Gaza. (AJ 10/13; AJ, HA, REU 10/14; AJ, REU 10/15)
U.S. president Joe Biden said the U.S. was working with Israel, Egypt, Jordan, and the UN to facilitate humanitarian aid to Gaza. Biden also spoke to PA president Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Abbas told Biden that Israel must respect humanitarian laws and stop settlers from attacking Palestinian villages in the West Bank. Abbas also spoke with Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte and Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. (AJ 10/13; AJ, HA, HA, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/14; AP 10/15)
Israeli minister without a portfolio Gideon Sa’ar said in an interview that the Gaza Strip must be smaller at the end of the war, saying “[w]hoever starts a war against Israel must lose territory.” (HA 10/14)
There were major protests in support of Palestinians in many cities throughout the world. (AJ 10/13; HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/14; REU 10/15; AJ 10/16)
EU high representative for foreign affairs Josep Borell said the world had failed “miserably” in establishing a 2-state solution, calling the situation in Gaza “a grave humanitarian crisis.” Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi said Israel was acting outside of the scope of self-defense and called on Israel to stop collective punishment. South African president Cyril Ramaphosa pledged solidarity with the Palestinian people, saying they have “a just struggle.” (AJ 10/13; AJ, HA, WAFA, WAFA 10/14)
Croatian president Zoran Milanović said he lost sympathy for Israel within 15 minutes due to its response in Gaza, calling the Croatian foreign ministry’s decision to display the Israeli flag outside of its building “idiotic.” (HA 10/14)
The Walt Disney Company said it would donate $2 million in humanitarian aid to Israel. (HA, HA 10/14)