Overnight, Gaza experienced intense fighting, with a live feed capturing the sounds of explosions and bright flames on the horizon.
The Israeli military reported that it had killed dozens of Hamas fighters, and earlier, they stated that their troops had successfully breached the group’s defensive lines.
Today, more civilians are expected to leave Gaza through the Rafah crossing. The UN noted that more than 400 people used the crossing yesterday, marking the first time since the conflict began.
In response to a heckler during a speech, US President Joe Biden emphasized the need for a “pause” in the fighting to facilitate the release of hostages held by Hamas.
Since the 7th of October, when Hamas attacks killed 1,400 people and resulted in the kidnapping of 239 individuals, Israel has been conducting airstrikes in Gaza.
According to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza, more than 8,700 people have been killed since Israel’s retaliatory bombings began.
The ministry now reports that 9,061 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip since the current conflict began on 7 October.
Among the casualties, 3,760 are children, and over 32,000 others have been injured.