The tunnels are a key target for Israel as it expands its ground operations inside Gaza aimed at destroying the Hamas movement.
“Over the past day, the IDF’s combined combat forces have struck approximately 300 targets, including anti-tank missile launchers, as well as military sites inside underground tunnels belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization,” the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said.
A member of the militant group Islamic Jihad places a mortar in a tunnel in the Gaza Strip on April 17, 2022. Photo: AFP
The rebels responded with anti-tank missiles and machine guns. “The soldiers eliminated the terrorists and directed the air force to attack terrorist targets and infrastructure in real time,” the IDF said.
Witnesses said Israeli forces targeted Gaza’s main north-south road on Monday and attacked Gaza City from two directions. Israel said its troops freed a soldier from Hamas captivity.
The al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, said it clashed early Tuesday with Israeli forces and the militant group also targeted two Israeli tanks and bulldozers in northwestern Gaza with rockets.
Gaza health authorities say 8,306 people, including 3,457 minors, have been killed in Israeli attacks since October 7. United Nations officials say more than 1.4 million of Gaza's roughly 2.3 million civilians have been left homeless.
Mr Netanyahu said late Monday that Israel would not agree to an end to hostilities with Hamas in Gaza and would continue to pursue its plan to destroy the group.
"The call for a ceasefire is a call for Israel to surrender to Hamas, to surrender to terror, to surrender to barbarism. That will not happen," Netanyahu said in a televised speech.
Military experts say Israeli forces are taking the ground offensive slowly, partly to leave open the possibility that Hamas militants will negotiate the release of the hostages.
Mai Van (according to Reuters)
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