Swords of Iron: Here is what happened on days 3, 4 and 5

An Israeli official dismissed on Monday reports of a possible prisoner swap between Israel and the Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip.

"There are no negotiations under way," the Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters.

Israel's northern communities have received a shelter-in-place order, Israel's National Emergency Portal announced on Monday.

The communities being affected are Avivim, Adamit, Bar'am, Jordah, An Nawakir, Dovav, Dishon, Dafna, Zra'it, Hanita, Tulaip, Yuval, Yiftah, Yir'on, Metula, Malkiya, Ma'ayan Baruch, Margaliyot, Meshagav Am, Matat, Netu'a, Ag'ar, Ar'amsha, Rosh HaNikra, Shomera, Shlomi, and Shetula.

These communities are being told to shelter in place until further notice.

Residents are being told to bring communication means, food, water, mattresses, blankets, medications, and additional essential supplies to their secure areas. They are also being told to seal doors and windows securely.

Avoiding any unnecessary movement outdoors is paramount.

There have been scattered reports of food shortages throughout Israel following the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas. Eyewitnesses in northern and central cities have reported various shortages of bread, fresh produce and meat in some supermarkets, including Shufersal, Osher Ad, Politzer, Carrefour, and Rami Levi. Others noted shortages of eggs, toilet paper, instant soups, noodles, and canned fish.In several other stores throughout the country, however, no shortages have been observed.

Wartime food shortage is nothing new

According to Joseph Gitler, the Founder and Chairman of Israel’s largest food non-profit Leket Israel, shortages of food immediately after war breaks out in Israel isn’t something new.

An estimated 2,000 participants were at Universo Paralelo festival in Be’eri, Israel from late Friday night until early Saturday morning, when the crowd had quickly dispersed to find shelter as rockets fired overhead from Gaza.

The festival, which was set to run all night, ran until 6 in the morning after rocket fire raised concern for participants. Those at the scene heard the explosions long before they heard sirens, leading some participants to stay put while others ran for their vehicles to evacuate.

Hamas has announced that If the IDF does not stop its attacks in the Gaza Strip, it will begin executing the hostages it has taken, Hebrew media reported on Monday.

Following rocket sirens in Jerusalem and the surrounding area, several injuries were reported in Beitar Illit after a rocket made landfall.

Magen David Adom stated that paramedics administered medical aid to four lightly injured individuals on site. 

This is a developing story.

The European Commission said on Monday it was putting all its development aid to Palestinians, worth 691 million euros ($729 million), under review and immediately suspending all payments following Hamas' attack on Israel.

"The scale of terror and brutality against Israel and its people is a turning point," Oliver Varhelyi, the European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, said in a post on social media. "There can be no business as usual."

Hamas militants killed 700 Israelis and abducted dozens in the deadliest such incursion since the Yom Kippur war 50 years ago, prompting Israel to retaliate with its heaviest ever bombardment of Gaza, which has killed more than 400 people.

New budget proposals on hold

Varhelyi said all new budget proposals for Palestinian aid were also postponed until further notice.

THEN-EUROPEAN Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini arrives at an EU summit, in Brussels, in 2019. She was an honorary board member pictured on the Fight Impunity website before resigning and distancing herself, says the writer. (credit: Julien Warnand/Reuters)

"The foundations for peace, tolerance and co-existence must now be addressed," he said.

"Incitement to hatred, violence and glorification of terror have poisoned the minds of too many," he added. "We need action and we need it now."

Earlier on Monday, Austria said it was suspending aid worth tens of millions of euros to Palestinians in response to the attack on Israel to ensure funds were not flowing into the wrong hands, while Germany was reviewing its support.

($1 = 0.9483 euros)

Ten buildings and vehicles have been hit in the latest round of rocket attacks in Sderot, the municipality spokesperson of Sderot announced on Monday.

No injuries have been reported.

Rescue teams and municipality workers are on their way to the locations that have been struck.

There is an ongoing shooting event near the Lebanon border, the Ma'ale Yosef Regional Council announced on Monday.

Local residents are ordered to remain indoors. Roads in the area are blocked. Each family in the local communities is being asked to report how many people are in each shelter and how many are in their area.

This is a developing story.

- The United States on Monday confirmed the death of nine Americans in Israel during the violence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

"We extend our deepest condolences to the victims and to the families of all those affected, and wish those injured a speedy recovery. We continue to monitor the situation closely and remain in touch with our Israeli partners, particularly the local authorities," a National Security Council spokesperson said in a statement.