Israeli Army announces expansion of ground operations in Gaza

The Israeli Army announced the expansion of its ground operation in Gaza Strip on Monday, adding that they "eliminated dozens" of Hamas fighters during night strikes.

It said IDF targeted Hamas fighters stationed near Al-Azhar University. 

The IDF said "about 600 targets were struck, including weapons warehouses, hiding and gathering places belonging to Hamas elements, and anti-tank missile launch sites" over the "last 24 hours".

Earlier, an officer of the Israeli force died and two more were injured when a tanker flipped over in an accident in the north.

During a press conference on Sunday, Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari confirmed that the number of hostages in Gaza is 239, adding that they are "committed to working to releasing them".

He also called on residents of Gaza to evacuate the northern Strip.

More from International

  • Duterte takes responsibility for Philippines drug war

    Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said he takes full responsibility for his administration's "war on drugs", in a video message posted on his Facebook account, as he braces for a legal battle at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

  • Arab states and US discuss Gaza reconstruction plan

    Officials from the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, and Palestine agreed to continue consultations on their Gaza reconstruction plan with US Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, it was announced after a meeting in Qatar on Wednesday.

  • Putin visits Kursk region for first time since Ukrainian incursion

    Russian President Vladimir Putin donned military fatigues for a surprise visit to troops in Russia's western Kursk region on Wednesday, where he ordered them to press their lightning advance and swiftly retake the rest of the area from Ukrainian forces.

  • NASA, SpaceX delay flight that was to retrieve stuck astronauts

    NASA and SpaceX have delayed the launch of a replacement crew of four astronauts to the International Space Station that would have set in motion the long-awaited homecoming of US astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams.

  • Pakistan military ends standoff with train hijackers

    Pakistan's military said it had ended a standoff on Wednesday with separatist fighters who had hijacked a passenger train in the country's southwestern Balochistan province and taken hundreds of people hostage.