The 27 pilgrims from Meghalaya stranded in Israel amid clashes with Palestine are believed to be leaving Bethlehem for Cairo before returning to India. Sources said the group may travel escorted by the Israeli army along the Suez Canal to Egypt, which is 10 hours away. Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma confirmed he is coordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs to ensure the safe return of the state's residents who went to Jerusalem for a holy pilgrimage but got stuck due to rising tensions. Sangma assured the families of the stranded pilgrims that the Meghalaya government is making every effort, in close coordination with the Centre, to secure their protected passage back home. The pilgrims' safety and well-being are of paramount concern, he stated.

The death toll from a powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake in Afghanistan has risen to over 2,000 people as the Taliban plead for urgent aid. Several villages were flattened with hundreds buried under rubble, prompting rescue efforts. The quake struck western Afghanistan on Saturday, centered 40km from Herat city. Aftershocks as strong as 6.3 magnitude followed, causing extensive damage. At least 465 houses were destroyed and 135 damaged per UN tallies. The Taliban deployed ambulances and urged aid groups to reach affected areas quickly to assist the injured and provide food and shelter to survivors. With telephone lines down in Herat, details remain scarce from remote impacted villages. The earthquake is one of Afghanistan's deadliest in decades as the country grapples with the disaster.

Distressing footage has emerged showing 25-year-old Noa Argamani being forcibly kidnapped by Hamas gunmen from an Israeli music festival amid screaming pleas to spare her life. Noa's boyfriend was also seen roughly handled in the video before both went missing after the kidnapping at the festival down south. The Israeli Embassy in the US tweeted that the figure of Israeli civilians and soldiers taken hostage is around 100. It also claimed over 300 Israelis were killed and 1800+ injured in the conflict. Other disturbing videos circulated on social media showed bodies of people in military attire and dead passengers on a highway as the humanitarian toll from the crisis keeps rising.    

Israel thanked India for its support after the country was hit by deadly rocket attacks from Palestinian militant group Hamas. The hashtag "India is with Israel" trended on Twitter as Israel's foreign ministry shared a post expressing gratitude to India. This comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the Hamas assault, conveying solidarity with victims and their families. PM Modi said India's thoughts and prayers were with the innocent victims. In response, Israel's ambassador to India Naor Gilon thanked PM Modi, stating that India's moral support is greatly appreciated. Online, many Indians also voiced backing for Israel as the country reels from the unprecedented attack by Hamas fighters, with the two nations affirming their friendly ties.

Pop superstar Bruno Mars left Israel on Saturday after being forced to cancel a concert in Tel Aviv due to rocket attacks by Palestinian militant group Hamas. Mars and his 60-member entourage spent several hours at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport before flying out to Athens, according to local entertainment show "Good Evening with Guy Pines". They had been scheduled to perform in Tel Aviv but called off the show as southern and central Israel came under heavy rocket fire from Gaza. Mars is now headed to Qatar to continue his world tour. He became the latest artist caught up in the escalating Israel-Hamas conflict that has put the region on war footing.

In stark contrast to celebrations twenty-four hours ago where people in Gaza were seen celebrating Hamas firing thousands of rockets into Israel, the town now lies shrouded in black smoke as nonstop explosions rock the territory. There is no power and water since Israel halted supplies, as reported by the BBC. Citizens remain indoors amid heavy airstrikes flattening buildings, including the Watan Tower, the hub for internet providers. Israel said its forces are still operating in eight locations, primarily to confirm they are cleared of Palestinian militants. However, Hamas claims it is engaged in fierce fighting inside Israel, the exact situation remains unverified. With Gaza plunged into darkness and many trapped without basic amenities, the humanitarian situation looks dire on both sides as Hamas vows to sustain its violent confrontation with massive Israeli bombardment.

Indian students in Israel described feeling "nervous and scared" as Hamas militants unleashed deadly attacks across the country. While in constant contact with the Indian embassy, students said the situation was "very tense" with sirens blaring for hours. Some took shelter in bunkers as over 300 rockets per minute slammed Israel. Others stayed indoors on embassy advice. With hundreds dead amid Israeli retaliation, students conveyed the horror of being caught in the escalating crisis. According to the details on the embassy's website, there are about 18,000 Indian citizens in Israel, primarily caregivers employed by Israeli elders, diamond traders, IT professionals, and students. Meanwhile, there are also approximately 85,000 Jews of Indian origin in Israel who were part of the main waves of immigration into Israel from India in the fifties and sixties.

Amid the escalating crisis in Israel due to Hamas rocket attacks, an Indian national stuck in the country shared a video on Twitter describing the horror. Identified as Prasad, he said over 5,000 rockets have been fired so far and they are in "deep trouble", unable to step outside. With over 500 dead in Israel and Gaza as fighting intensifies, India's embassy in Israel has advised citizens to exercise caution. In the widely circulated video, Prasad paints a dire picture of constant rocket barrages as Israel vows to hit back after the unprecedented assault. 

Though the exact number of Israeli civilians and soldiers taken hostage by Palestinian militants remains unclear, the Israeli Embassy in the US tweeted that the figure is around 100. It also claimed over 300 Israelis killed and 1800+ injured in the conflict. Gaza authorities said Israeli airstrikes have killed 256 Palestinians, including 20 children, with 1788 wounded in 24 hours. This followed Israel's bombing of Hamas sites in Gaza, flattening buildings. Information from Gaza remains scarce though social media showed destroyed structures and displaced citizens. The hostage crisis along with hundreds of casualties underscores the high human toll as the worst Israel-Hamas flareup continues.

Gaza's health ministry reported 256 Palestinians including 20 children died in Israeli airstrikes over 24 hours, with 1788 injured. This followed Israel's bombing of multiple Hamas sites across Gaza, releasing footage of the strikes. Sparse information is emerging from Gaza but social media showed destroyed buildings, flattened religious places, and people taking shelter in hospitals. Some visuals displayed areas reduced to rubble from the Israeli raids. Meanwhile, Israel has started evacuating its citizens as hostilities rage. The Palestinian death toll highlights the devastation wreaked by Israeli bombardment even as ground fighting continues between its forces and Hamas.