Israel expands operations in Gaza
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) released videos said to show military operations against Hamas in Beit Hanoun overnight and Rafah.
After two months of relative calm in the 18-month war, Gazans have again been fleeing for their lives after Israel effectively abandoned a ceasefire, launching a new all-out air and ground campaign against Hamas.
With the video of an overnight operation, the IDF said they had encircled an area named Tel al-Sultan, in Rafah, southern Gaza during an operation that began in early morning and aimed at expanding the security zone in the area.
In another video released the IDF shows operations in an area said to be Beit Hanoun, in northern Gaza, which they said they carried out against Hamas targets and that Israeli fighter jets had hit the area earlier.
Explosions echoed throughout the north, central and southern Gaza Strip early, as Israeli planes hit several targets in those areas in what witnesses said was an escalation of the attacks that began earlier in the week.
Hamas has accused Israel of breaking the terms of the January ceasefire agreement by refusing to begin negotiations for an end to the war and a withdrawal of its troops from Gaza. But Hamas has said it is still willing to negotiate and was studying "bridging" proposals from U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff.
At least 50,021 Palestinians have been killed and 113,274 wounded since the beginning of the war, the health ministry said in a statement.
In southern Gaza's Khan Younis, a funeral was held for Hamas official Salah Al-Bardaweel and his wife.
They were killed in an Israeli airstrike on the city, according to officials of the militant group.
Bardaweel was a member of Hamas' decision-making political office, and had taken up roles such as leading the group's delegation for indirect truce talks with Israel in 2009.
Hamas has accused Israel of breaking the terms of the January ceasefire agreement by refusing to start second-phase talks for a permanent end to the war.
