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Israel's national security adviser predicted that the United States would get "involved" if the Gaza war escalated to the point where Iran and Hezbollah joined in on behalf of Hamas. Tzachi Hanegbi talked about support from US president Joe Biden, which included US naval deployments in the Mediterranean and a public warning to the Lebanese group. The US has also warned Iran to stay out of the fighting, he said.

"He is making clear to our enemies that if they even imagine taking part in the offensive against the citizens of Israel, there will be American involvement here," Tzachi Hanegbi said, adding, “Israel will not be alone ... A US force is here and it is ready.”

External affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi was on Monday appointed as India’s next permanent representative to the United Nations and other international organisations in Geneva.

Bagchi is currently additional secretary in the external affairs ministry. He is expected to take up the assignment shortly, according to an official statement.

An English daily first reported on October 3 that Bagchi would become the envoy to UN in Geneva.

Iran's foreign minister warned Israel of escalation if it failed to end aggressions against Palestinians saying that other parties in the region were ready to act, the semi-official Fars news agency reported. "If the Zionist aggressions do not stop, the hands of all parties in the region are on the trigger," Hossein Amirabdollahian was quoted as saying after Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to “demolish Hamas”.

Israel's military prepared to move into the Gaza Strip to root out Hamas whose deadly rampage through Israeli border towns shocked the world after Benjamin Netanyahu convened Israel's expanded emergency cabinet in a show of unity. "Hamas thought we would be demolished. It is we who will demolish Hamas," he said.

At least 52 people were killed and dozens were wounded Friday by a ‘suicide blast’ near a mosque in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, according to local media reports. Earlier, the death toll had stood at 34. So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the explosion.

The blast happened in the Mustang district of the southwestern province during a religious gathering marking the birthday of Prophet Mohammed, Pakistan’s Dawn reported citing the assistant commissioner of the district.

Uyghur Congress president Dolkun Isa was interrupted twice by the Chinese as he began speaking in a general debate during the 54th Session of the UNHRC in Geneva on Wednesday.

A Chinese diplomat interrupted his speech and demanded the floor to object. The Chinese diplomat said Isa is not a representative of the "so-called NGO". However, UN Human Rights Council Vice President Asim Ahmed allowed Uyghur activists to complete his statement.