Israel declared on Tuesday that its forces had struck Hamas fighters from within the Islamist group’s extensive tunnel network beneath Gaza after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected calls for a ceasefire to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian enclave. According to local Reuters sources, Israeli forces targeted Gaza’s main north-south road on Monday and attacked the city from two directions. The al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, stated that militants confronted Israeli forces on Tuesday morning, “invading the southern axis of the Gaza Strip, including with machine guns, and targeting four anti-tank rocket vehicles al-Yassin 105.”
The number of hostages believed to be held in Gaza has risen to 240, according to Israeli military spokesperson Admiral Daniel Hagari. Hagari also stated that 315 IDF soldiers have died since Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7.
Gaza’s health ministry, controlled by Hamas, has provided a new tally of the more than three weeks of bombardments. 8,306 people have died, including nearly 3,500 children, according to Palestinian enclave officials. At the same time, an international organization reports that 31 journalists have died in the conflict so far. Eight have been injured, and nine are missing.
The Israeli prime minister categorically refuses any ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip. During a press conference, Netanyahu stated that any conflict inadvertently results in civilian casualties. The United States is once again calling for an increase in humanitarian aid for the population trapped in the Gaza Strip. The new proposal is to open a second border crossing with Egypt, this time on Israeli territory.
IDF spokesperson said they also destroyed infrastructure targets of Hezbollah in raids over last last night. He added that thousands civilians are fleeing southern Lebanon “on voluntary basis” due to fears that “Hezbollah will bring the war to their doorstep”.
On the other hand, IDF mention this morning that there is no threat over civilians in Eilat, after a hostile aircraft alert had been previously announced.
At Least 13 Killed in Israeli Overnight Airstrike in Central Gaza; Including Children, Says Hospital Staff Member
At least 13 people have been killed in an Israeli raid over night in downtown Gaza, according to a member of the medical staff in Al-Aqsa hospital. The air radi has struck a house in al-Zawaida in Deir al Balah, allegedly killing the 13 people who were inside, including children, as dr. Khalil Al Dikran, the chief of nurses told CNN.
According to the mentioned source, 44 bodies were in the morgue to be prepared for funeral.