The death toll mounts as Biden arrives in Israel

Plus, Doug Ford's Greenbelt distraction and Toronto's winter shelter plans [The Star] First Up [By Manuela Vega] By Manuela Vega Good morning. Here’s the latest on civilian deaths in Gaza, Ford’s motion on the Hamas attack and Toronto’s winter shelter plan. DON’T MISS Mahmud Hams/AFP via Getty Images israel-hamas war [A hospital strike has killed 500 people, Gaza’s health ministry says]( Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed after a rocket hit a Gaza City hospital where many people were sheltering. Doctors — faced with dwindling medical supplies due to Israel’s blockade — performed surgeries on hospital floors, often without anesthesia, in a desperate attempt to save victims, The Associated Press reports. Hamas blamed Israel for the strike, while Israel blamed another Palestinian militant group. [Here’s how politicians are reacting to the horrors in Gaza](. - Previously: Israel told 21 hospitals in Gaza to evacuate, an order some doctors refused to comply with [because it would be a death sentence for many patients](. - Go deeper: Calling the situation “beyond comprehension,” aid groups are [urging a ceasefire to provide basic supplies to 2.3 million people stuck in Gaza](. - The aftermath: Pregnant in Gaza, nearing her due date and scrambling for shelter, [a local folk hero is dreading labour pains](. - Word from Ottawa: Justin Trudeau has [called the bombing of the Gaza hospital “not legal” and “unacceptable.”]( - Meanwhile: Families of hostages are pleading for negotiations. [A new video shows at least one is alive in Gaza](. - Martin Regg Cohn’s take: Will Israel face war on another border? [Here’s how things could get much worse](. Canadian Press/Chris Young ontario politics [Is Doug Ford using the Hamas attack to distract from the Greenbelt scandal?]( The premier on Tuesday urged MPPs to support a motion condemning Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack on Israel and recognizing “the inalienable right of the State of Israel to defend itself and its people.” NDP Leader Marit Stiles accused Ford of putting forth the motion and a censure on MPP Sarah Jama to distract from the RCMP’s investigation of the Greenbelt deal, while calling for de-escalation in the Israel-Hamas war. [These are the conversations taking place at Queen’s Park](. - More: Ford’s decision to cancel the Greenbelt deal has helped the Tories bounce back. [Take a look at the numbers](. - Context: Despite Ford cancelling the deal, the branch of the RCMP that deals with fraud and corruption [launched an investigation into the decision to open up the Greenbelt for development](. Steve Russell/The Star housing [Toronto unveils its winter shelter plan, but admits it may not be enough]( Signs of increasing homelessness are all over the city and the municipal government fears that its plans for the winter may not be good enough to properly address the crisis, Victoria Gibson reports. Last September, about 8,200 people were using the shelter system each night. This year, that figure climbed to 9,102. [Here’s what we know about plans for the first winter of Olivia Chow’s administration](. - By the numbers: On average, 278 people were turned away daily from shelters in September due to insufficient space. Fewer than a dozen people are being matched with a bed per day. - Go deeper: “We’re taking away sleep and safety from people that are already in a very compromised position,” one charity leader said. “It’s the sheer terror to people, being outside in the cold and the wet, and everyone doing front-line work have nowhere to send people … this is just woefully inadequate.” - Meanwhile: Canada is considering a guaranteed universal basic income program. [Here’s what that means](. WHAT ELSE Families harassed, sleepless nights — [Muslim MPs fear for their communities and themselves as the Israel-Hamas war fuels racist incidents](. The Markham Public Library CEO is promising a review of policies after [temporarily removing Islamic Heritage Month displays](. Peter Nygard’s lawyer is arguing a sexual assault [complainant lied to police about Nygard’s genitals](. Metroland is offering to pay creditors at least 13 cents on the dollar and more for former employees. [Read the proposal](. Can you travel with weed on a flight? [Here’s a refresher on Canada’s cannabis laws](. [Toronto has one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the world]( according to a new survey. Inflation is down to 3.8 per cent — [here’s what that could mean for Bank of Canada rates](. [Toronto’s luxury real estate market heated up this summer]( despite rising interest rates. [A guide to the “everything shower,”]( a surprisingly soothing self-care ritual. It’s nearly flu season. [Why you may or may not want to get the shot](. ICYMI Getty Images/iStockphoto [How untreated ADHD costs Canada billions of dollars a year.]( CLOSE-UP Mohammed Abed/AFP via Getty Images SOUTHERN GAZA: Palestinians evacuate a wounded child after an Israeli airstrike hit the Rafah refugee camp in the southern Gaza Strip Tuesday. Israel had previously told Gazans in the north of the besieged territory to flee south for safety. Thank you for reading. You can reach me and the First Up team at [firstup@thestar.ca](mailto:firstup@thestar.ca?source=newsletter&utm_source=ts_nl&utm_medium=emailutm_email=6C53B63A8E3FAD70AD4EF13004527437&utm_campaign=frst_201965). I’ll see you back here tomorrow. If you're not enjoying these emails, please tell us how we can make them better by emailing newsletterfeedback@thestar.ca. Or, if you'd prefer, you can unsubscribe from this newsletter by clicking the first link below. [Unsubscribe From This Newsletter]( [Sign Up for More Newsletters and Email Alerts]( [View in Browser]( Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. 8 Spadina Avenue, 10th Floor, Toronto, ON M5V 0S8. 416-367-2000 [PRIVACY POLICY](