Israel said it struck a major blow against Hamas killing a commander in a deadly airstrike that obliterated buildings around a refugee camp in Gaza.
Ibrahim Biari was said to have died in the blast targeting an area inside the Jabaliya refugee camp, while authorities in Gaza said the explosion killed 50 people.
Israeli forces have also announced the most daily casualties since the ground war began as the assault into the territory continues. The IDF said nine soldiers have been killed, taking the death toll of combat inside Gaza to 11.
More than 8,500 Palestinians have been killed in the war, mostly women and minors, the Gaza Health Ministry said on Tuesday, without providing a breakdown between civilians and fighters. The figure is without precedent in decades of Israeli-Palestinian violence.
Over 1,400 people have died on the Israeli side, mainly civilians killed during Hamas’ initial attack, also an unprecedented figure. Palestinian militants also abducted around 240 people during their incursion and have continued firing rockets into Israel.
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Rafah crossing set to open today for foreign nationals to escape Gaza, Foreign Secretary says
Foreign nationals, including perhaps some of an estimated 200 Britons, could be able to leave Gaza today.
The Foreign Secretary said the Rafah crossing with Egypt would be open, but did not specify if British nationals would be among those making the crossing.
Posting on X just minutes ago James Cleverly wrote: “The Rafah crossing is likely to open today for a first group of foreign nationals.
“UK teams are ready to assist British nationals as soon as they are able to leave.
“It’s vital that lifesaving humanitarian aid can enter Gaza as quickly as possible.”
IDF bombardment continues with huge plumes of smoke rising from Gaza
The Israeli aerial and artillery bombardment of the Gaza Strip continued as ground forces make their way into the territory.
Fresh images from the conflict show an enormous plume of smoke rising from the enclave this morning.
Total loss of communications for Gaza as IDF assault continues
The Gaza Strip has lost almost all communication a global monitoring site claims.
According to the BBC Netblocks, which monitor access to things like the internet around the world, said Gaza “is in the midst of a new internet blackout with high impact to the last remaining major operator, Paltel”
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