Israeli ground forces pushed deeper into Gaza, advancing in tanks and other armoured vehicles on the territory’s main city and freeing a soldier held captive by Hamas militants.
This comes as Israeli prime minister rejected calls for a ceasefire, declaring a “time for war” amid continuing calls for a humanitarian pause in the conflict from the UK and other allies.
“Calls for a cease-fire are calls for Israel to surrender to Hamas,” Benjamin Netanyahu told a news conference. “That will not happen.”
Meanwhile, the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees told a UN emergency meeting yesterday that “an immediate humanitarian ceasefire has become a matter of life and death for millions,” accusing Israel of “collective punishment” of Palestinians and the forced displacement of civilians.
More than 8,300 people have been killed in Gaza – 66 per cent of them women and children – and tens of thousands injured, the UN humanitarian office said, citing Gaza’s ministry of health.