Israel attacks Hamas gunmen inside Gaza tunnels, among 300 targets in 24 hours
- The tunnels, possibly holding hostages, are a key objective as Israel tries to wipe out the militant group following its deadly October 7 attack
- Dozens were reported dead in strikes on a refugee camp, while agencies warn of ‘public health catastrophe’ and risk of babies dying of dehydration
Israel said its forces attacked Hamas gunmen inside the Islamists’ vast tunnel network beneath Gaza, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed calls for a halt to fighting to ease the humanitarian crisis.
The tunnels are a key objective for Israel as it expands ground operations in Gaza to wipe out the ruling Islamist Hamas movement following its surprise attack on October 7 that Tel Aviv says killed over 1,400 people.
“Over the last day, combined IDF combat forces struck approximately 300 targets, including anti-tank missile and rocket launch posts below shafts, as well as military compounds inside underground tunnels belonging to the Hamas terrorist organisation,” the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said in a statement.
Militants responded with anti-tank missiles and machine gun fire, it added, saying soldiers “killed terrorists and directed air forces to real-time strikes on targets and terror infrastructure”.
Israel also struck Lebanon and Syria overnight. The United Nations warned that the situation in Syria, which borders Israel and has Iran-backed militias, is “at its most dangerous for a long time”.
The West Bank home of exiled Hamas number two Saleh al-Aruri was demolished by Israel’s army with explosives.