Israel plans to launch long and difficult ground offensive to destroy Hamas, says defence minister

EXCLUSIVE: Freeform is in early development on drama series RUSH. Written by Royal Pains co-creator Andrew Lenchewski and Kevin O’Hare and to be directed by Alexis Ostrander (Mayfair Witches), RUSH is based on the Israeli series The Station, whose third season aired earlier this year.

Almost 190 anti-Semitic hate incidents on Jewish people in Greater Manchester have been reported since the Hamas attack on Israel, according to a charity.

Andy Burnham has denied being disloyal to Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer over his call for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war.

The BBC has launched an emergency radio service for Gaza.

Zack Sharf Digital News Director Selena Gomez informed her 430 million Instagram followers that she is currently taking a break from social media due to the “horror, hate, violence and terror that’s going on in the world.” The pop star and “Only Murders in the Building” actor did not directly reference the Israel-Hamas war by name, but it’s clear posts about the Hamas terrorist attack and the subsequent destruction in Gaza factored into her decision to break from social media platforms. “I’ve been taking a break from social media because my heart breaks to see all of the horror, hate, violence and terror that’s going on in the world,” Gomez wrote on her Instagram story. “People being tortured and killed or any act of hate towards any one group is horrific.

Keir Starmer has ignored Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar’s call for a ceasefire in the deadly war in Gaza.

Labour politicians from across Greater Manchester have met with members of the Muslim community as pressure mounts on the party over its stance on the Israel-Gaza war. Mayor Andy Burnham was joined by Gorton MP Afzal Khan and council leaders from across the city-region at the meeting in Whalley Range this afternoon (October 27).

Joe Otterson TV Reporter Peter Chernin’s North Road Company has hired Amy Israel in the role of president of television. Israel was most recently the head of scripted for Showtime, though it was announced in September she would be stepping down from that role by year’s end. In her new role, Israel will oversee all of North Road’s scripted television development and production.

Amy Israel, the former Showtime exec, has officially been installed as President of Television at Peter Chernin’s The North Road Company.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent The Israeli film and TV industry has penned an open letter urging the international community to overcome “polarization” and rally “in the name of humanity” as more than 200 civilians, including infants, children, women and men from different nationalities, are still being held as hostages by Hamas in the Gaza strip. “Time is of the essence; international pressure is crucial and your support is critical,” said the letter.

Naman Ramachandran India’s Film Bazaar, South Asia’s largest film market, has selected a range of projects from around the world for its annual co-production market. The 20 selected projects are from 11 countries, most are already structured as co-productions, and they are all South Asian-themed.

K.J. Yossman The partners of transatlantic production company Fulwell 73 have released a statement condemning the “devastating terrorist attack against Israel” two weeks ago and expressing concern over how the conflict is being reported by the media.

UK media regulator Ofcom has revealed that it received nearly 2,400 complaints after Good Morning Britain presenter Richard Madeley asked a British lawmaker with family in Gaza if there was “any word on the street” before Hamas launched its attack on Israel.

Jordan Moreau The International Documentary Association announced the 17 feature-length and 25 short documentaries included on the shortlists for the 39th IDA Documentary Awards, which will be held during the week of Dec. 11in Los Angeles.

A whole lot of celebrities have spoken out about Israel and Palestine recently.

Cynthia Littleton Business Editor Nadav Palti is about to mark his 20th year as CEO of Dori Media, the prolific Israeli production and distribution firm headquartered in Tel Aviv. Earlier this month, Palti and Dori executives from Argentina, Mexico, Switzerland, Spain, Singapore and other locations were busy preparing to bring the company’s largest-ever slate of TV shows and movies to pitch to global buyers. Everything changed on Oct.

A group of 55 celebrities have signed a letter addressed to President Joe Biden asking him to call for a ceasefire in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

J. Kim Murphy A group of 55 prominent artists and advocates in the entertainment industry have signed an open letter to President Joe Biden, urging for a call for a ceasefire in Gaza and Israel. The signatories include names such as Joaquin Phoenix, Cate Blanchett, Jon Stewart, Kristen Stewart, Susan Sarandon, Mahershala Ali, Riz Ahmed, Ramy Youssef and Quinta Brunson.

Hundreds of protesters were arrested on Capitol Hill today as they demonstrated inside the Cannon Office Building, chanting for a ceasefire in the Israel–Hamas war.

More than 2,000 figures from the UK’s arts and culture world have signed an open letter calling for the immediate cessation of Israel’s blockade and bombing of Gaza.