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IDF ready to attack tunnels
The Israeli military said its forces had taken a militant compound and were poised to attack Hamas fighters hiding in underground tunnels and bunkers in the northern Gaza Strip, having isolated the area with troops and tanks. It released video of tanks moving through bombed-out streets and groups of troops moving on foot.
“Now we are going to start closing in on them,” Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Hecht said.
The armed wing of Hamas, the Al-Qassam brigades, said it had damaged 27 Israeli military vehicles in 48 hours and inflicted significant losses in direct engagements with Israeli troops.
Reuters
Israel brushes off ceasefire pressure
Israel has rebuffed mounting international pressure for a ceasefire, saying hostages taken by Hamas militants during their rampage from Gaza into southern Israel on October 7 should be released first. Hamas says it will not free them while Gaza is under assault.
A Reuters journalist in Gaza said Israel’s overnight bombardment by air, ground and sea was one of the most intense in its offensive prompted by the October 7 attack in which Hamas killed 1400 people and seized more than 240 hostages.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.Credit: Reuters
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is touring the region to try to reduce the risks of the conflict escalating, get more aid into Gaza and draw up plans for a sustainable future for both Israel and the Palestinians.
Washington is seeking pauses in fighting to allow in aid rather than a ceasefire, arguing, like Israel, that Hamas militants would just take advantage.
“We are working very aggressively on getting more humanitarian assistance in Gaza,” Blinken said in Turkey. “And we have very concrete ways in doing that. And I think we’ll see in the days ahead that assistance can expand in significant ways.”
Reuters
Gaza death toll passes 10,000
Good morning and welcome to today’s coverage of the Middle East conflict. My name is James Lemon and I’ll be taking you through until midday.
UN agency leaders have demanded a humanitarian ceasefire nearly a month into the war in Gaza, where Palestinian health authorities said the death toll from Israeli strikes now exceeded 10,000.
The health ministry in the Hamas-controlled enclave said at least 10,022 Palestinians have since been killed, including 4104 children. International organisations have said hospitals cannot cope with the wounded and food and clean water are running out with aid deliveries nowhere near enough.
Palestinians look for survivors under the rubble of a destroyed building following an Israeli airstrike in Khan Younis refugee camp, southern Gaza Strip.Credit: AP
“An entire population is besieged and under attack, denied access to the essentials for survival, bombed in their homes, shelters, hospitals and places of worship. This is unacceptable,” the UN chiefs said in a joint statement.
“We need an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. It’s been 30 days. Enough is enough. This must stop now.”
Reuters
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