Updates | Day 6 of the latest Israel-Hamas war

The Israeli government is under intense public pressure to topple Hamas after its militants stormed through a border fence Saturday and killed hundreds of Israelis in their homes, on the streets and at an outdoor music festival.

In the Gaza Strip, meanwhile, residents are facing ever-growing uncertainty after the territory's only power plant ran out of fuel and shut down Wednesday. Without power, communication is limited and information is scarce.

Egypt has engaged in intensive talks with Israel and the United States to allow the delivery of aid and fuel through its Rafah crossing point, which remained closed on both sides Thursday.

However, Egypt pushed back against proposals to establish corridors out of Gaza, saying an an exodus of Palestinians from the enclave would have grave consequences on the Palestinian cause.

The war, which has claimed at least 2,600 lives on both sides, is expected to escalate.

Here's what's happening on Day 6 of the latest Israel-Hamas war: BRITAIN TO DEPLOY 2 ROYAL NAVY SHIPS TO THE MEDITERRANEAN Britain's government says it is deploying two Royal Navy ships to the eastern Mediterranean within days to show support for Israel, offer "deterrence and assurance" and support humanitarian efforts.

The government said Thursday that UK Royal Air Force surveillance planes will also begin patrols on Friday to help "track threats to regional security, such as the transfer of weapons to terrorist groups." The military deployment, which includes three helicopters and a company of Royal Marines, will be on standby to support Israel and regional allies.

"We must be unequivocal in making sure the types of horrific scenes we have seen this week will not be repeated," British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said in a statement.

Sunak is expected to discuss the situation in Israel with northern European leaders at a summit in Sweden on Friday.

ISRAEL'S PARLIAMENT APPROVES EMERGENCY UNITY GOVERNMENT Israel's parliament approved an emergency unity government Thursday night, swearing in Benny Gantz and four other ministers to serve in a security cabinet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.

DEATH TOLL OF US CITIZENS IN HAMAS ATTACK RISES TO 27 The death toll of US citizens in the Hamas attack on Israel has risen to 27, and the number of missing is now at 14, White House National Security spokesman John Kirby said Thursday.

Kirby said that the US was continuing to work with Israeli officials to try to locate those who remain unaccounted for. Kirby said he believes only a few of those missing have been taken hostage.

IRAN'S FOREIGN MINISTER: REGION WILL FACE REPURCUSSIONS IF ISRAEL DOESN'T END ATTACKS ON GAZA During a visit to Iraq Thursday, Iran's foreign minister said that if Israel fails to stop its attacks on civilians in Gaza, the region will face "new conditions." "They cannot put Gaza under complete siege and bomb the citizens and commit war crimes, and expect no response," Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Hossein Amirabdollahian said in a statement released by the foreign ministry.

Amirabdollahian met with Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani Thursday and was expected to travel to Lebanon, where he will meet with officials on Friday.

Questions have swirled around Iran's role in the attack launched by Palestinian militant group Hamas on Israel Saturday. Hamas officials have denied Iran's direct involvement, and to date no government worldwide has offered direct evidence that Iran orchestrated the attack. However, many have pointed to Iran's long sponsorship of Hamas.

ERDOGAN RENEWS CALL FOR REDUCING TENSIONS BETWEEN ISRAEL AND PALESTINIANS Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on the United States to work toward reducing tensions between Israel and Palestinians, renewing his criticism of a U.S. decision to send an aircraft carrier to the region.

"What is more appropriate for a country like America? To establish peace or to go there with gasoline and fuel (the fire)?" Erdogan said during an address to hundreds of youth on Thursday.

"We don't want the conflict and attacks to escalate further and God forbid, spread to our region. We call on all actors who have a voice and influence in the region to make efforts toward reducing tensions," he continued.

Erdogan renewed his criticism of Israel's retaliatory airstrikes and said Israel should act "like a state" and observe the human rights of Palestinians in Gaza.

US TO START EVACUATING AMERICANS FROM ISRAEL, POSSIBLY AS SOON AS FRIDAY The US government will begin operating evacuation flights to help Americans leave Israel as Israel prepares to escalate retaliatory action against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip, according to the Biden administration.

White House National Security spokesman, John Kirby confirmed Thursday that the US would arrange charter flights from Israel to sites in Europe.

"We're still working through some of the details of that to assist US citizens and their immediate family members," he said.

The evacuation flights are expected to begin operating as early as Friday. The US government is arranging for at least four charter flights a day out of Israel through Frankfurt, Germany.

LEBANESE PREMIER URGES GROUPS TO AVOID INCITING CONFLICT IN ISRAEL Lebanon's caretaker prime minister is calling on all Lebanese groups to exercise self-restraint and to not be pulled into "Israel's plans." Najib Mikati's comments Thursday after a Cabinet meeting in Beirut were apparently meant to encourage the militant group Hezbollah to avoid inciting any conflict with Israel.

"Lebanon is in the eye of the storm and what is happening along our southern border leaves us deeply worried," Mikati said.

He said the incidents along Lebanon's border with Israel over the past few days are the result of Israel's "provocations and continuous violations" of a United Nations Security Council resolution that ended a monthlong was between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006.

Mikati said Lebanon condemns "criminal acts committed by Israel." UN SAYS HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN GAZA IS GETTING MORE DESPERATE The number of people fleeing attacks on Gaza is continuing "in very, very large numbers," with a 30% increase in the past 24 hours, the United Nations humanitarian office says.

Two-thirds of the people displaced by the violence — 218,000 — have taken refuge in 92 schools run by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Thursday.

Dujarric said the humanitarian situation, with the Israeli cutoff of fuel, food and electricity, is getting more dire "by the day, if not by the hour." "More than 2,500 units have been destroyed, severely damaged and rendered uninhabitable while nearly 23,000 others have sustained moderate to minor damage," he said. "At least 88 educational facilities have been struck." Dujarric said discussions about opening a humanitarian corridor from Gaza are ongoing, and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and UN Mideast envoy Tor Wennesland are engaging "with all relevant actors." BLINKEN TO TRAVEL TO SAUDI ARABIA, THE UAE AND EGYPT AFTER VISITING JORDAN AND QATAR US Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed Thursday that he will visit Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt following planned trips to Jordan and Qatar. Blinken is set to travel on Friday to Doha where he will talks with senior Qatari officials.

Qatar has ties with Hamas and has in the past served as facilitator in discussions to calm tensions in and around Gaza.

ISRAEL'S MILITARY SAYS THE NUMBER OF SOLDIERS KILLED HAS RISEN TO 247 Israel's military said Thursday that 247 soldiers have been killed since the start of the war last weekend — an increase from 222 earlier in the day.

The military previously confirmed to The Associated Press that the 222 soldiers had all been identified and their families notified.

IRAN'S FOREIGN MINISTER URGES END OF VIOLENCE IN GAZA, SAYS THE WAR WILL AFFECT ENTIRE REGION Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian expressed his country's support for the rights of the Palestinian people, saying that the ongoing war in Gaza will affect the whole region.

Amirabdollahian said there is a need for an end to the "killing of children and civilians in Palestine." The Iranian official made his comments Thursday during a meeting with Iraq's National Security Adviser Qasim al-Araji in Baghdad.

Amirabdollahian's comments were carried in a statement released by al-Araji's office.

Al-Araji said demonstrations will be held in different parts of Iraq on Friday in support of the Palestinians.

Iran is a main supporter of Palestinian factions based in Gaza, including Hamas and the Islamic Jihad group.

FORMER ISRAELI DEFENCE OFFICIAL SAYS BOMBARDMENT OF GAZA SHOULD CONTINUE UNTIL HAMAS IS ASHES A former Israeli defence official told The Associated Press Thursday that Israel should continue bombarding Gaza for as long as militants remain in the territory, even if it incurs massive casualties to Israeli soldiers.

Yaakov Amidror, a retired General and senior fellow at JINSA, a Washington DC-based think tank, said that Israel would "bomb any attempt to build military capability in the in the Gaza Strip for the next hundred years," raising the specter of an unending military engagement in Gaza.

"We need to crush Hamas to ashes, no matter how many casualties," Amidror said. "Of course, we will give all means to our soldiers to defend themselves. but I don't think casualties are the main element in decision-making." FAMILIES OF MISSING FRENCH-ISRAELI CITIZENS ASK MACRON FOR INFORMATION ABOUT EFFORTS TO FIND THEM Struggling to speak as they sobbed or choked back tears, families of French-Israeli citizens missing since the Hamas attack began last weekend appealed Thursday for information about their whereabouts and for efforts to bring them back.

"We don't know if she is dead, if she is in Gaza. We don't know anything. We haven't heard anything,'' Doron Journo, whose 24-year-old daughter Karin Journo disappeared Saturday, said at a news conference in Tel Aviv.

Karin's sister appealed to French President Emmanuel Macron, saying, ''I want my country back. I want my sister back.'' Batsheva Yahalomi described being kidnapped by militants on motorbikes along with her baby and 12-year-old son Eitan. She and the baby escaped, but she hasn't seen Eitan since.

Ido Nagar held his 6-month-old child as he pleaded for information about his wife, Celine Ben-David Nagar, 32, who had also been at the music festival. ''Bring my wife back to her daughter.'' ISRAEL MILITARY SAYS IT HAS DROPPED 6,000 BOMBS ON GAZA SINCE START OF WAR The Israeli military said Thursday it had dropped 6,000 bombs on Gaza since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. While Israel says it is striking Hamas targets, many civilians in the pounded strip have been killed. Hospitals and UN shelters have also been hit.

The airstrikes have also killed entire families in their homes. Gaza's Ministry of Health said Thursday that 22 entire families had been killed. An airstrike in the northern city of Jabalia Thursday killed 44 members of the same family, leaving just six survivors.

HAMAS OFFICIAL WARNS AGAINST GROUND INVASION, SAYS IT WOULD BE DISASTER FOR THE ISRAELI MILITARY A high ranking Hamas official warned Thursday that any Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip will prove catastrophic for the Israeli army.

"For every action the enemy takes, there is a plan we have," said Saleh Al-Arouri, the deputy head of the political bureau of Hamas.

Israeli defence officials have yet to order a ground invasion of the pummeled territory, but have been planning for the possibility of it. The military has called over 300,000 reservists into action in preparation.

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