Israeli army says it has stormed central Gaza City

Specifically, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said in a televised press conference that Israeli soldiers had entered central Gaza City and "were tightening the noose."

Israeli army declares it has entered the center of Gaza city photo 1 — Gaza City has been constantly bombarded by Israel during the war. Photo: Reuters

The infantry, armored vehicles and tanks “have one target – Hamas terrorists in Gaza, their infrastructure, command posts, bunkers and communications rooms,” Mr Gallant said.

He added that Hamas’s top leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, had been isolated in his bunker, adding that it was Sinwar who “made the decision a month ago to attack Israeli civilians, women and children”. And now, he was “cut off from his surroundings, his command ability is weakening”.

Gallant said that dozens of kilometers of tunnels ran beneath the city, under schools and hospitals, and housed weapons, communications rooms and militant hideouts. The Israeli military said it was beginning the next phase of the war, focused on identifying and neutralizing Hamas's maze of tunnels, which could take months to complete.

"We are increasing the pressure on Hamas every hour, every day. So far, we have eliminated thousands of terrorists, above ground and underground," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a televised statement.

The Israeli military said Hamas militants fired anti-tank missiles at Israeli forces from nearby hospitals and soldiers found weapons hidden in a school in northern Gaza.

The military wing of Hamas, which has ruled the small, densely populated enclave for 16 years, said its fighters were inflicting heavy casualties and damage on Israeli forces attacking it.

Israel has given Gaza City residents between 10am and 2pm to leave the southern part of the Gaza Strip, which is just 45km long. Gaza's Interior Ministry said 900,000 Palestinians are still sheltering in northern Gaza, including Gaza City.

Fighting was also ongoing on Israeli territory, with Hamas' armed wing saying on Telegram late Tuesday that it had fired rockets at Tel Aviv and rocket sirens sounded in the Israeli city and other cities in central Israel.

Both Israel and Hamas have rejected calls for a ceasefire. Hamas has said it will not release hostages as Israel demands, nor will it stop fighting while Gaza is under attack.

Hoang Anh (according to Reuters, AJ, CNN)

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