Israel-Hamas conflict as it happened: Gaza death toll surpasses 10,000 as IDF encircles city

More than 700 Jewish Australians have signed a letter decrying the actions of Israel and urging the federal government to call for an immediate ceasefire in the besieged Gaza enclave.

The letter, which is being sent to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Defence Minister Richard Marles, was prepared by a growing grassroots initiative under the banner Australian Jews call for Ceasefire Now.

Calling on the Australian government to insist on a full ceasefire, the letter describes the co-signed as “heartbroken and grieving,” and “horrified by what we are witnessing in Gaza.” It was drafted by a group of unaffiliated Jewish Australians.

“We urge the Australian government to call now for both the release of innocent hostages, and for a full ceasefire. Australia cannot stand by while Israel continues to subject Palestinian civilians to its campaign of collective punishment,” the letter states.

You may have seen reports at the weekend that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suspended a junior minister from cabinet meetings for expressing an openness to Israel carrying out a nuclear strike on Gaza.

Heritage Minister Amihay Eliyahu, who is in a far-right party in the coalition government, made the controversial remark in a radio interview when asked about a hypothetical nuclear option, responding: “That’s one way.”

The comment, which drew condemnation from across the Arab world and forced Netanyahu to suspend him “until further notice,” has now triggered a response from Russia’s foreign ministry.

Reuters news agency has reported on comments from Maria Zakharova, Russia’s foreign ministry spokeswoman, expressing concern that the now-suspended minister had raised a huge number of questions.

What was once Gaza’s busiest thoroughfare has become a terrifying escape route for Palestinian civilians fleeing combat on foot or on donkey carts. On their way south, those running for their lives said they raised their hands and waved white flags to move past Israeli tanks along the four-lane highway.

Some reported Israeli soldiers firing at them and said they passed bodies strewn alongside the road.

In the north of the Gaza Strip, Israeli ground forces backed by relentless airstrikes have encircled Gaza City, the base of Hamas ′ power, since the weekend. They cut the strip in half and sought to drive Palestinians from northern Gaza as troops advanced.

From early on in the war, now in its second month, the army has urged civilians to move south, including by announcing brief windows for what it said would be safe passage through Salah al-Din, which runs through the centre of the besieged enclave.

A 69-year-old Jewish man has died after falling and striking his head following a confrontation the previous day during competing pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrations in suburban Los Angeles, authorities said.

Paul Kessler’s death was being investigated as a homicide and authorities haven’t ruled out the possibility a hate crime occurred, said a statement from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department. No arrests had been made.

Kessler was injured shortly before 3.30pm Sunday (PST) during competing demonstrations in Thousand Oaks, a city of about 125,000 northwest of Los Angeles. Police received reports that a battery had occurred and deputies sent to the scene found Kessler suffering from a head wound, the department said.

“Witness accounts indicated that Kessler was involved in a physical altercation with counter-protester(s). During the altercation, Kessler fell backwards and struck his head on the ground,” the department said.