Summary

US President Joe Biden will visit Israel on Wednesday to be briefed on its plans for war against Hamas militants

Biden will hear from Israel how it will conduct its operations in a way that "minimises civilian casualties", the US says

Hamas says it fired a "barrage of rockets" at Jerusalem and Tel Aviv - with sirens sending lawmakers to bomb shelters

UN aid chief Martin Griffiths says the health system and hospitals in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip are "collapsing"

The Rafah crossing from Egypt into Gaza has been hit by an air strike - the extent of the damage is unclear

Israel's military has updated the number of people it believes are being held hostage in Gaza - up from 155 to 199

Rishi Sunak says at least six British people were among those killed by the initial Hamas attack, and 10 remain missing

Source: BBC

BDST: 0925 HRS, OCT 17, 2023
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