Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
DRIVEN UNDER
Thousands of fighters trapped in tunnels after massive nightly bombardment Aid agencies’ desperate plea for ceasefire as Palestinian death toll tops 10,000
TENS of thousands of Hamas fighters were trapped under the ruins of Gaza after a massive Israeli bombardment.
Israel Defence Forces said the territory was now split in two, with no way out for militias, as Gaza City was surrounded yesterday.
Ahead of today’s one-month anniversary of Hamas’s October 7 attack, Gaza’s Health Ministry said 10,022 Palestinians have died.
As the death toll rose, aid agencies appealed again for a ceasefire.
Israel said it struck 450 targets overnight, killing Hamas chiefs.
It claimed F16 fighters destroyed military compounds, and a haul of arms was seized in a Gaza home. Israel expects to take over Gaza
within hours rather than days. But they will face up to 40,000 rebels prepared to fight to the death.
Israeli army spokesman Jonathan Conricus said it is targeting the tunnels, where 240 hostages may be held.
He added: “We are going stronghold after stronghold in a systematic effort to dismantle Hamas from its military capabilities.”
IDF Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari called it a “significant stage” in the war, with troops expected to enter Gaza City within 48 hours.
Aid agencies warned emergency calls could not be made in a Gaza communications blackout.
They called for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire”, adding: “Enough is enough”. The UN said: “For almost a month, the world has been watching the unfolding situation in shock and horror at the spiralling numbers of lives lost and torn apart.”
Israel said more than 1,500 of its citizens have died since October 7 and Hamas has fired 9,000 rockets. The IDF has launched 2,500 air strikes against the militants.
US President Joe Biden raised the need for humanitarian pauses with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu but there was no agreement.
Israeli military vehicles crossed the border into Gaza as targets were hit in Rafah and Gaza City’s Shati refugee camp.
Israeli hostage families cried at the “wall of loved ones” in Tel Aviv.
A policewoman was stabbed to death in Jerusalem’s old town, with the attacker, 16, shot. In the West
Troops are going after strongholds to dismantle capabilities of Hamas JONATHAN CONRICUS ISRAELI ARMY SPOKESMAN
Bank, four Palestinian men were killed in a vehicle in Tulkarem. It was claimed two were militants.
Jordan air-dropped medical supplies to a field hospital in Gaza, while a US nuclear submarine docked in the Middle East.
Around 90 Brits are still waiting to see if they can get to the border with Egypt. No10 said more than 100 had managed to escape before the Rafah crossing closed on Saturday.
Refugees allowed to leave Gaza were shown in black and white aerial images on the north-south highway. They told of carrying their children past dead bodies.
Food, medicine, fuel and water are running low and UN shelters are beyond capacity. Israel has
dismissed calls for a ceasefire from Jordan and Egypt. After days of diplomacy, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken returned home.
He said talks would continue to get a brief cessation to hostilities.