Thousands take to Tel Aviv streets, while Israeli military urges evacuation of more areas of Rafah amid strikes across Gaza
Opening summary
Welcome to our latest live coverage of Israel’s war on Gaza and the wider crisis in the Middle East. Here’s a snapshot of the latest key developments.
Thousands of Israelis took to the streets on Saturday demanding that prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government do more to secure the release of hostages being held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Some protesters blocked a main highway in the city before being dispersed by police, who used water cannons to push back the crowd, Reuters reported. At least three people were arrested.
Family members of the hostages, carrying pictures of their loved ones still in captivity, joined the crowds that demonstrated in Tel Aviv.
Meanwhile, Israel launched strikes on across Gaza on Sunday after it expanded an evacuation order for the territory’s southernmost city of Rafah, in a further indication the military is pressing ahead with its plans for a ground attack.
Gaza’s civil defence agency said two doctors were killed on Sunday in the central town of Deir al-Balah, while Agence France-Presse correspondents reported intense clashes and heavy gunfire from Israeli helicopters near Gaza City in the north.
More than 100,000 Palestinians fled Rafah on Saturday, with roads leading out of city choked with long columns of people – many on foot and carrying their belongings – while witnesses said Israel carried out airstrikes in the city near the crossing with Egypt.
In other news:
The Israeli military’s new evacuation instructions suggest a coming offensive will take its forces into the centre of Rafah and on to a likely advance through the whole city.
