Israel-Hamas war updates and latest news on Gaza conflict

The top U.S. general overseeing American forces in the Middle East made an unannounced trip to Israel on Tuesday, saying he hoped to ensure its military has what it needs as it fights a deepening war against Palestinian militant group Hamas.

The trip by Army General Michael “Erik” Kurilla, head of U.S. Central Command, is the latest by a senior U.S. official to Israel ahead of an expected ground assault by Israel’s military in Gaza. It comes a day before a planned visit by U.S. President Joe Biden to the country.

The U.S. military is increasing its firepower in the region, aiming to prevent Iran and other Iran-backed groups from getting involved in the conflict as international fears of a wider, regional war grow.

The Pentagon is also rushing weaponry, including air defenses and munitions, to Israel.

“I’m here to ensure Israel has what it needs to defend itself, particularly focused on avoiding other parties expanding the conflict,” Kurilla told Reuters, which is traveling with him, in brief remarks before landing.

A U.S. official told Reuters Kurilla was scheduled to hold high-level meetings with Israel’s military leadership, ensuring a clear understanding of the close U.S. ally’s defense requirements.

— Reuters

President Joe Biden said he will travel to Israel on Wednesday to “stand in solidarity in the face of Hamas’s brutal terrorist attack.”

“I’ll then travel to Jordan to address dire humanitarian needs, meet with leaders, and make clear that Hamas does not stand for Palestinians’ right to self-determination,” Biden wrote on X, the social media platform previously known as Twitter.

— Amanda Macias

New satellite images taken by Maxar Technologies show crowds of people and vehicles gathering on the Gaza side of the Rafah border crossing into Egypt.

President Joe Biden discussed ways to alleviate the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi of Egypt, in coordination with the UN, Jordan, the Palestinian Authority, Israel, and other regional partners, the White House said.

They also discussed the need for stability in the Middle East. Biden “condemned Hamas’ terrorist attack on Israel and reiterated that Hamas does not stand for the Palestinian people’s right to dignity and self-determination,” the White House said.

Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are being displaced as they flee to the south as Gaza runs out of food, water, electricity and critical supplies, the United Nations warned.

President Joe Biden will travel to Israel on Wednesday to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the conflict intensifies.

“He’s coming here at a critical moment for Israel, for the region and for the world,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced during a brief press conference at the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv.

Blinken said that Biden will receive security briefings and coordinate with regional partners to mitigate the expansion of the war.

Biden will also work to implement a plan that will allow for humanitarian aid and resources to safely enter Gaza Strip.

— Amanda Macias

Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for nearly eight hours in Tel Aviv.

The meeting, which included Netanyahu’s war cabinet, was interrupted twice by air raid sirens. Blinken and Netanyahu were forced to take cover along with traveling press in a shelter during the alerts.

Blinken has visited Israel twice since the start of the war on Oct. 7.

— Amanda Macias

A spokesman for Hamas said that the group is prepared to release non-Israeli hostages when certain conditions are met.

It was not immediately clear how many hostages would potentially be released.

The White House has previously said that they believe “less than a handful” of Americans are being held by Hamas.

Here’s more from MSNBC.

— Amanda Macias

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin spoke with King Abdullah II of Jordan as the ongoing crisis intensifies.

“The two leaders agreed on the importance of ensuring that civilians have access to humanitarian aid,” Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh wrote in a readout of the call.

“The secretary reaffirmed the strength of the U.S.-Jordan partnership and reiterated the U.S. commitment to Jordan’s security,” Singh added.

— Amanda Macias

President Joe Biden is strongly considering traveling to Israel as early as this week, three U.S. officials tell NBC News.

Officials say planning has begun for a potential ground visit from Biden.

The White House declined to comment.

Biden on Sunday was invited to Egypt for an international summit on Oct. 21 centered on the future of Palestinians.

NBC News reported on Sunday the White House was considering an invitation from Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu for Biden to travel to Israel.

— Emma Kinery

Donald Trump said that if elected president again in 2024, he would widen the travel bans from his first term in office to include residents from Gaza and “anywhere else that threatens our security.”

“I banned refugees from Syria, I banned refugees from Somalia, and from all the most dangerous places in the world — and in my second term, we are going to expand each and every ban to keep America safe,” Trump announced at a campaign stop in Iowa, according to remarks prepared for the event.

Trump in those remarks also vowed to implement “strong ideological screening” for all U.S. immigrants and “aggressively deport resident aliens with jihadist sympathies.”

He also said that his administration would send immigration officers to “pro-jihadist demonstrations to enforce our immigration laws and remove the violators from our country.”

The speech in Iowa shows Trump, the top contender in the Republican presidential primary, reacting to the Israel-Hamas war by ratcheting up his hard-line views on immigration.

The Trump administration in 2017 issued an executive order restricting travel to the U.S. from seven majority-Muslim countries, among other measures. The Supreme Court narrowly upheld that order in 2018.

In 2020, the administration expanded the travel ban to include six additional nations.

President Joe Biden revoked those bans on his first day in office.

— Kevin Breuninger

The Pentagon has placed approximately 2,000 U.S. troops on preparation to deploy orders to the Middle East, a Defense official confirmed to NBC News.

The U.S. servicemembers will likely deploy to neighboring countries in support of Israel.

— Amanda Macias

Hundreds of protesters gathered outside of the White House urging President Joe Biden to call for a ceasefire in Israel and Gaza, including actor Wallace Shawn.

The protest was organized by If Not Now and Jewish Voices for Peace, two Jewish organizations advocating for equality for Israelis and Palestinians.

Shawn, known for his role in The Princess Bride, held a sign that read “My grief is not your weapon.”

— Emma Kinery

Secretary of State Antony Blinken was forced to shelter in place for a second time during his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to a note from press traveling with the State Department.

During the first air raid sirens, Blinken and Netanyahu waited in a bunker for approximately five minutes.

— Amanda Macias

United Nations Secretary-General spokesman Stephane Dujarric said that humanitarian teams have supplies that are ready to be moved into southern Gaza through the Rafah crossing.

Dujarric added that a World Health Organization aircraft arrived in Egypt near the Rafah passage with additional supplies. Meanwhile, the World Food Program is working to reach approximately 225,000 displaced people in at least 19 United Nations shelters throughout the Gaza Strip.

— Amanda Macias

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were forced to shelter in a bunker for at least five minutes, State Department spokesman Matt Miller said.

Miller said a meeting between the two in Tel Aviv was interrupted by sirens. Over the weekend, a congressional bipartisan delegation also had to shelter in place during meetings in Israel.

— Amanda Macias

Martin Griffiths, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, will travel to the Middle East as the conflict between Israel and Hamas intensifies.

Griffiths, who is expected to stay in the region for a few days, will begin in Egypt with a possible stop in Israel.

The trip was announced by United Nations Secretary-General spokesman Stéphane Dujarric during a daily press briefing.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has previously called for a ceasefire and immediate humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip.

— Amanda Macias

The direct market impacts stemming from geopolitical are typically short-lived, according to Principal Asset Management chief global strategist Seema Shah. However, she believes that the impacts on the macroeconomy can linger.

“The key macro concerns from the developments in Israel lie with the threat of upward pressure on oil prices, and how its corresponding effect on core inflation could potentially prompt central bank action. … The indirect impacts via inflation and economic growth can be more persistent,” Shah said.

The strategist believes the critical macro concerns lie with the oil market. While Brent crude prices have not risen as much as had been expected initially following the outbreak of the attack, an escalation in tensions would likely put further upward pressure.

“Higher oil prices can work their way into core inflation and inflation expectations if sustained,” said Shah. “Safe haven flows have contributed to a sharp fall in bond yields this week. Yet, if oil prices rise further and price pressures do re-emerge, expectations of additional monetary action from policymakers could threaten a renewed bond rout.”

— Hakyung Kim

Read more about the war’s effect on markets and the global economy at CNBC’s markets live blog.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that the U.K. will make available £10 million (about $12 million U.S.) in humanitarian aid for civilians impacted in Gaza.

“An acute humanitarian crisis is unfolding, to which we must respond. We must support the Palestinian people – because they’re victims of Hamas, too,” Sunak in a speech before the House of Commons.

The funding will go to providing critically needed items and services like, emergency shelters, food and water.

— Amanda Macias

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were briefed by their national security team on the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, a White House official said.

Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, who oversees America’s intelligence agencies, ran the briefing alongside National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Director of the Central Intelligence Agency Bill Burns.

— Amanda Macias