Israeli forces reported an attack on Hamas militants inside the so-called Gaza metro, a vast network of tunnels beneath the Palestinian enclave.
The attack came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected appeals for a cessation of hostilities to ease the humanitarian crisis.
The tunnels are Israel’s main target as it expands ground operations inside the Gaza Strip to destroy Hamas, which has established itself in Gaza since a surprise attack three weeks ago.
“Over the last day, combined IDF (Israel Defense Forces) struck approximately 300 targets, including anti-tank missile and rocket launch posts below shafts, as well as military compounds inside underground tunnels belonging to the Hamas terrorist organisation.”
Hamas gunmen responded with anti-tank missiles and machine gun fire.
The soldiers killed terrorists and directed air forces to real-time strikes on targets and terror infrastructure.
Israeli forces also bombed the Gaza Strip overnight from the air, sea and land, hitting northwestern areas of the coastal enclave, accompanying the troops.
Witnesses reported that on Monday, Israeli forces attacked Gaza’s main north-south road and targeted the city from two directions. Israel then reported the release of a soldier from Hamas captivity.
The group has so far freed four civilians out of 240 hostages that, Israel claimed, were taken in the October 7 attacks. Many of the hostages are believed to be held in tunnels.
Gaza health authorities claim 8,306 people have been killed by Israeli attacks since October 7, including 3,457 minors. UN officials state that more than 1.4 million of Gaza’s civilian population of about 2.3 million people have been left homeless.
The escalating death toll has prompted calls by the US, other countries and the UN for a suspension of hostilities to allow humanitarian aid access to the besieged Gaza Strip. Netanyahu announced on Monday that Israel would not agree to a cessation of hostilities, continuing to destroy Hamas.
“Calls for a ceasefire are calls for Israel to surrender to Hamas, to surrender to terrorism, to surrender to barbarism. That will not happen.”
UN officials are reporting that far fewer aid trucks have arrived in Gaza than needed and that civil order has been disrupted, with people storming UN warehouses in search of food. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) reported on Monday that four aid distribution centres and a storage facility were out of order as a result of the disruption.
It’s a disaster on top of a disaster. Health needs are soaring and our ability to meet those needs is rapidly declining.
The conflict has sparked demonstrations around the world in support of Palestinians and increased anti-Semitic and Islamophobic harassment. The US National Muslim Democratic Council has stated that it will work to mobilise millions of Muslim voters not to cast their ballots for President Joe Biden’s re-election in 2024 unless he takes immediate steps to secure a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
