Israel said its troops have entered the middle of Gaza’s main city, as they continue their operation to destroy Hamas.
“IDF forces are in the heart of Gaza City,” Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said late Tuesday, referring to the Israel Defense Forces. “They came from the north and the south. They stormed it in full coordination between land, air and sea forces.”
Israel describes Gaza City as the “center of gravity” of Hamas’s operations. The government is determined to end the militant group’s rule over the strip following its attack on southern Israeli communities on Oct. 7, which killed around 1,400 people.
The Israeli military has bombarded Gaza since then and started a ground assault just over 10 days ago. It’s focusing the offensive mainly in the north of the Mediterranean enclave, where Gaza City is located, and has urged Palestinian civilians to evacuate to the south.
Israel is using infantry troops, tanks and armored vehicles to push deeper into northern Gaza, which was home to more than a million people before the war erupted.
“They have one target — Hamas terrorists in Gaza, their infrastructure, their commanders, bunkers, communication rooms,” Gallant said. “They are tightening the noose around Gaza City.”
Israel has resisted pressure, including from the US, to restrain its operations, which the Hamas-run Health Ministry says have killed more than 10,000 people in Gaza.
US President Joe Biden urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a call on Monday to agree to a three-day pause in the fighting to facilitate hostage negotiations with Hamas, Axios reported, citing unnamed US and Israeli officials.
Hamas and other groups abducted around 240 people during the Oct. 7 attack. Israel has said anything other than a short pause in fighting would allow Hamas to regroup.
The IDF has announced the deaths of around 30 soldiers in Gaza since the ground offensive started.
Hamas is designated a terrorist organization by the US and the European Union. It’s received extensive training and funding from Iran and continues to fire rockets and missiles into Israel daily.