Israel‘s military pushed deeper south Tuesday in Gaza after it called for more evacuations in the southern portion of the enclave in its pursuit to wipe out the territory’s Hamas rulers. The struggle has already killed greater than 15,000 Palestinians and displaced over three-fourths of Gaza‘s 2.3 million residents, who are running out of safe places to go.
The Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said the death toll in the territory since Oct. 7 has surpassed 15,890, with more than 41,000 wounded. The ministry does not differentiate between civilian and combatant deaths, but said 70% of the dead were women and children. Israel says it targets Hamas operatives and blames civilian casualties on the militants, accusing them of operating in residential neighborhoods.
The United States, Qatar and Egypt, which mediated the earlier cease-fire, say they are working on a longer truce. But hopes for another temporary truce faded after Israel called its negotiators home over the weekend. Hamas said talks on releasing more of the scores of hostages seized by militants on Oct. 7 must be tied to a permanent cease-fire.
Currently:
– Israel orders evacuations as it widens its offensive, but Palestinians are running out of places to go.
– Pennsylvania’s governor rebukes Philadelphia protesters for chanting outdoors an Israeli restaurant.
– A world journalist group says the Israel–Hamas battle is a struggle past examine for media deaths.
– The kibbutz of Nir Oz can illuminate Hamas’ hostage technique, an operation that was unprecedented each in scope and execution.
– Find extra of AP’s protection at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war.
Here’s what’s taking place within the struggle:
ANKARA, Turkey – Turkey’s state-run information company says Turkish intelligence officers have warned their Israeli counterparts of “serious consequences” in the event that they try to focus on members of Hamas on Turkish soil.
The warning, reported by the Anadolu Agency late Monday, got here after Ronen Bar, the pinnacle of Israel’s home safety company Shin Bet, mentioned in an audio recording that his group is ready to destroy Hamas “in every place,” together with in Lebanon, Turkey and Qatar.
Anadolu Agency, quoting unnamed Turkish intelligence officers, mentioned “necessary warnings were made” to Israeli officers who have been instructed their actions would “have serious consequences.” The company additionally quoted the officers as saying that Turkey had prevented “illegal activities” by overseas operatives prior to now and that no overseas intelligence company can be allowed to hold out operations on Turkish territory. Israel’s Mossad spy company has been accused of involvement in a collection of assassinations abroad of Palestinian militants and Iranian nuclear scientists over time.
Turkey has hosted Hamas officers and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has mentioned his authorities considers Hamas to be a liberation group, not a terrorist group.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Satellite pictures analyzed Tuesday by The Associated Press present that the Israeli navy has begun its floor offensive within the southern reaches of the Gaza Strip as a part of its struggle in opposition to Hamas.
Since the collapse of a brief cease-fire between Israel and Hamas that noticed militant-held hostages swapped for Palestinians held in Israeli prisons, the Israeli navy has launched an intense marketing campaign of airstrikes and floor combating within the southern Gaza Strip as properly. The satellite tv for pc pictures launched by Planet Labs PBC present the primary clear have a look at the depth and scope at which the Israelis are combating.
The pictures, shot Sunday by Planet, present Israeli tanks and armored personnel carriers just below 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) north of the guts of Khan Younis, the main metropolis of the southern a part of the Gaza Strip. Many who fled the Israeli offensive and airstrike marketing campaign in Gaza City’s north now dwell round Khan Younis and different close by areas after the Israeli navy ordered them to evacuate.
The Israeli deployment sits simply to the west of Salah al-Din, a essential north-south hall throughout the Gaza Strip that many used to flee. An AP evaluation discovered positions in 4 clusters, with a complete of round 150 armored personnel carriers, tanks and different autos within the space. Israeli troopers have created packed dust berms round a few of their positions, which can be utilized for canopy.
Fresh tank tracks might be seen chewed by the bottom there, suggesting the actions have been current.
The Israeli navy didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark from The Associated Press concerning their technique for the offensive and what the satellite tv for pc pictures confirmed. However, the maneuver and the variety of autos there means that the Israeli navy is making ready to doubtlessly transfer south in Khan Younis. Fighting already has been reported within the space.
___
Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed.
TEL AVIV, Israel – The households of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza say they’re set to fulfill Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after demanding a sit-down with him.
The households have sought to fulfill with Netanyahu and his wartime Cabinet since a truce deal between Israel and Hamas that noticed the discharge of 105 hostages expired Nov. 30. Since Hamas’ Oct. 7 assault, many households have complained that they weren’t adequately stored knowledgeable of the efforts to safe their family members’ launch. About 240 individuals have been taken hostage.
The households say Netanyahu and different leaders have for days dodged their requests to fulfill. The assembly is predicted to happen Tuesday.
The households say they need to hear from Netanyahu that he has their relations’ destiny in thoughts as Israel strikes forward in its struggle in opposition to Hamas.
