Hello from CNN. I'm Chris de Beau with the five things you need to know for Monday, October 16th.

Israel says it's planning a new phase of its war against Hamas as the humanitarian crisis worsens in Gaza.

Over the weekend Israeli forces said the ongoing airstrikes

crippling Gaza recently could be soon followed by a ground offensive.

Israel says about half a million residents have left northern Gaza for the south, while Israel

has restricted Gaza's access to water, food, fuel, and electricity.

Palestinian authorities say more than 2,800 people have been killed in Israel's airstrikes,

while Israeli authorities say Hamas's terror attacks on October 7th killed at least 1,400 people.

Israel also revised the total number of people being held hostage by

Hamas and Gaza to at least 199. The only viable option to get supplies in and

people out of Gaza is the Rafa crossing which connects Gaza with

Egypt. Officials in Egypt, Israel and Gaza have all said there is no arrangement to

open the crossing as of yet, leaving humanitarian aid to pile up on the Egyptian side of the border.

U.S. leaders are trying to make sure the conflict between Israel and Hamas doesn't escalate

into a wider regional conflict.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the Pentagon is sending a second carrier strike group

to the Eastern Mediterranean Sea and Air Force fighter jets to the region

to deter hostile actions against Israel.

It's also meant to send a message of deterrence to Iran and Iranian proxies in the region,

such as Hezbollah and Lebanon. Israel ordered the evacuation of 28 villages in northern Israel near the

country's border with Lebanon after Israel and Hezbollah exchanged fire over the

weekend. Secretary of State Anthony Blinking is back in Israel today for the second time in a week, meeting

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