Israel’s navy pushed deeper south Tuesday in Gaza after it referred to as for extra evacuations within 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’re operating out of secure locations to go.
The Well being Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza mentioned the loss of life toll within the territory since Oct. 7 has surpassed 15,890, with greater than 41,000 wounded. The ministry doesn’t differentiate between civilian and combatant deaths, however mentioned 70% of the lifeless have been girls and youngsters. Israel says it targets Hamas operatives and blames civilian casualties on the militants, accusing them of working in residential neighborhoods.
The US, Qatar and Egypt, which mediated the sooner cease-fire, say they’re engaged on an extended truce. However hopes for an additional momentary truce light after Israel referred to as its negotiators house over the weekend. Hamas mentioned talks on releasing extra of the scores of hostages seized by militants on Oct. 7 have to be tied to a everlasting cease-fire.
At the moment:
— Israel orders evacuations because it widens its offensive, however Palestinians are operating out of locations to go.
— Pennsylvania’s governor rebukes Philadelphia protesters for chanting exterior 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.
— Discover extra of AP’s protection at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war.
Right 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 “critical penalties” in the event that they try to focus on members of Hamas on Turkish soil.
The warning, reported by the Anadolu Company late Monday, got here after Ronen Bar, the pinnacle of Israel’s home safety company Shin Guess, mentioned in an audio recording that his group is ready to destroy Hamas “in each place,” together with in Lebanon, Turkey and Qatar.
Anadolu Company, quoting unnamed Turkish intelligence officers, mentioned “needed warnings have been made” to Israeli officers who have been instructed their actions would “have critical penalties.” The company additionally quoted the officers as saying that Turkey had prevented “unlawful actions” by overseas operatives up to now and that no overseas intelligence company could be allowed to hold out operations on Turkish territory. Israel’s Mossad spy company has been accused of involvement in a sequence of assassinations abroad of Palestinian militants and Iranian nuclear scientists through the years.
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 tv for pc pictures analyzed Tuesday by The Related 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.
Because the collapse of a short lived 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 preventing within the southern Gaza Strip as nicely. The satellite tv for pc pictures launched by Planet Labs PBC present the primary clear take a look at the depth and scope at which the Israelis are preventing.
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 foremost metropolis of the southern a part of the Gaza Strip. Many who fled the Israeli offensive and airstrike marketing campaign in Gaza Metropolis’s north now stay 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 grime berms round a few of their positions, which can be utilized for canopy.
Recent tank tracks could possibly be seen chewed by means of the bottom there, suggesting the actions have been current.
The Israeli navy didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark from The Related Press concerning their technique for the offensive and what the satellite tv for pc pictures confirmed. Nonetheless, the maneuver and the variety of autos there means that the Israeli navy is making ready to probably transfer south in Khan Younis. Preventing already has been reported within the space.
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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 satisfy Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after demanding a sit-down with him.
The households have sought to satisfy with Netanyahu and his wartime Cupboard 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 saved knowledgeable of the efforts to safe their family members’ launch. About 240 folks have been taken hostage.
The households say Netanyahu and different leaders have for days dodged their requests to satisfy. The assembly is anticipated to happen Tuesday.
The households say they need to hear from Netanyahu that he has their family’ destiny in thoughts as Israel strikes forward in its struggle in opposition to Hamas.