As of 30 October 2023, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) ground troops are advancing into the northern Gaza Strip and reaching the outskirts of Gaza City. Local news outlets reported that Israeli soldiers traveled several miles into the strip during the expanded ground operations. IDF reported striking more than 600 alleged Hamas-linked targets since operations intensified on 27-28 October after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced in a televised address that Israel had entered a new stage in the war against Hamas. Communications have been partially restored in the Gaza Strip following a significantly expanded Israeli bombing campaign in the strip which cut mobile and internet connections on 27 October.
On 29 October the U.N. Relief Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) announced that thousands of individuals broke into warehouses storing supplies in the southern and central portions of Gaza, taking flour, hygiene products and other essential items from those warehouses. The IDF stated that it will allow for significantly more humanitarian aid to enter Gaza from Egypt, and the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) additionally announced that a second pipeline was reopened to supply water in the Gaza Strip on 28 October allowing for a total of 28.5 million liters a day to be piped into the area. Before the start of the conflict, at least 49 million liters of water per day was supplied to Gaza. The Palestinian Ministry of Health stated that at least 8,005 people have been killed in Gaza, with approximately 73% of those killed being from vulnerable populations such as women, children and the elderly. The U.N. has stated that at least 53 members of their staff have been killed in Gaza since the start of the conflict. In addition, almost 640,000 displaced individuals have taken shelter in 150 UNRWA buildings across Gaza. The IDF has confirmed that at least 239 are being held hostage by Hamas, though this number is not final and may change. Negotiations continue for the release of hostages.
Conflict remains high in the West Bank as IDF operations have continued in several cities – including Beitunia, Deir Abu Mishal, Huwara, Jenin, Nablus, Silwad and Urif. On 27 October, Israeli media reported that anonymous leaflets were distributed across the West Bank town of Deir Istiya warning individuals they had one last chance to leave before they would face another “Nakba” or catastrophe — a term for the 1948 displacement of Palestinian Arabs at the foundation of the state of Israel. Additionally, anti-Israel protests occurred in Bethlehem, Jenin, Tulkarm and Nablus.
Meanwhile, the IDF launched several strikes into Lebanon on 29 October in response to at least 16 rockets fired into Israel that landed in open spaces over the preceding 24 hours. On 28 October, the Israeli military conducted airstrikes against Hizballah’s military infrastructure after the militant group fired rockets toward Israeli territory the prior day.
In a related development, the U.N. passed a non-binding resolution on 27 October, requesting an immediate humanitarian truce to allow aid into the Gaza Strip. At least 120 nations voted in favor of the resolution, with 14 nations — including the U.S., Israel, Guatemala and Croatia — voting against the resolution and 45 nations abstaining from voting.
