Here is the situation on Friday, October 20, 2023:
Latest developments
- Israeli attacks hit the compound of Saint Porphyrius Greek Orthodox Church in Gaza City on Thursday, killing eight people and wounding dozens. Christians and Muslims were taking shelter there.
- United States President Joe Biden held an Oval Office address – usually reserved for matters of extreme importance.
- Biden confirmed that he will be requesting the Congress to send emergency funding to Israel and Ukraine.
- The Israeli bombardment in the central Gaza town of al-Zahra has levelled at least 10 buildings and left thousands of people either trapped in the rubble or awaiting medical care.
- New reports suggest that the Rafah crossing, a passage for much-needed humanitarian aid into Gaza, is unlikely to open on Friday as was earlier suggested by Biden.
- Pointing to parallels with their own past under colonisation and apartheid, Algeria and South Africa carried out mass protests in support of Palestine.
Human impact
- The Israeli bombardment in the 24 hours leading up to Thursday evening has killed 307 in Gaza. The death toll has topped 3,700.
- Israeli raids in Khan Younis have killed 21, wounded 79, and hit six homes.
- Twenty-one journalists and media workers, mostly Palestinians, have been killed since the beginning of the war, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.
- A Lebanese civilian was killed by firing between the Israeli and Lebanese border.
- Lebanon’s military has blamed Israeli fire for killing a journalist who was part of a seven-member team at the border.
