Israel-Hamas war: Fighting moves to tunnels as IDF tanks roll in to Gaza

The IDF have released an update on their continued ground operations in the Gaza Strip.

During clashes in the Gaza Strip, IDF troops killed dozens of terrorists who barricaded themselves in buildings and tunnels, and attempted to attack the troops.

In one incident, an IDF aircraft guided by IDF ground troops struck a staging post inside a building belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization, with over 20 Hamas terrorist operatives inside it.

In addition, over the last few days, the IDF struck over 600 terror targets, including weapons depots, dozens of anti-tank missile launching positions, as well as hideouts and staging grounds used by the Hamas terrorist organization.

Overnight, IDF troops identified armed terrorists and an anti-tank missile launching post in the area of the Al-Azhar University, and guided a fighter jet to strike them.

Here is a live view of smoke billowing out of buildings across the horizon of the Gaza strip as the IDF expand their ground operations.

Israel’s self-declared “second phase” of a three-week war against Iranian-backed Hamas militants has been largely kept from public view, with forces moving under darkness and a telecommunications blackout cutting off Palestinians.

The phone and internet cuts appeared to ease on Sunday, but telecoms provider Paltel said Israeli air strikes had again knocked out internet and phone service in parts of Gaza’s northern sections, where Hamas has command centres.

The reported strikes near hospitals came after the Palestinian Red Crescent said on Sunday it had received warnings from Israeli authorities to immediately evacuate Al-Quds hospital, where some 14,000 people have sought shelter.

Warning: This livestream may contain scenes that some viewers find distressing.

This is the horrific moment a reporter runs for his life live on air as Hamas missile flies overhead towards their position.

7NEWS US bureau chief David Woiwod was reporting from Sderot in the south of Israel, near the Gaza border, when the incident unfolded.

The Australian anchor points out what he believes to be a flare heading in their direction.

The scene quickly turns to panic as he shouts: “I think we might have to go now guys, we gotta go” as a loud blast explodes behind him.

Bravely returning to air Woiwod explained the Hamas missiles are flying over Israel every few hours.

“You only have a few seconds to react here,” Woiwod said when it was safe to continue reporting.

“That is why these towns here on the Gaza border have been evacuated.”

Around 20 Palestinians were killed in Gaza with more injured according to medical officials as Israeli tanks rolled into the enclave with a ground assault.

Israel’s military said it had struck over 600 militant targets over the past few days as it continued to expand ground operations in the Gaza Strip, where Palestinian civilians are in dire need of fuel, food and clean water as the conflict enters its fourth week.

“IDF troops killed dozens of terrorists who barricaded themselves in buildings and tunnels, and attempted to attack the troops,” the military said in a statement.

Israeli air strikes hit areas near Gaza’s Al-Shifa and Al-Quds hospitals, and Palestinian militants clashed with Israeli forces in a border area east of the city of Khan Younis in the south, Palestinian media said.

Medical officials in Gaza said at least 20 Palestinians had been killed and dozens wounded overnight as Israeli ground forces pushed into the coastal enclave from multiple directions.

People sheltering at the Nasir Hospital have spoken of their isolation hiding from bombs amid a telecommunications blackout.

People in the southern Gaza Strip said they heard the explosions and saw the sky light up – but had no means of checking on family and friends in the targeted areas.

“Gaza is isolated from the rest of the world. Strikes are hitting right next to us, around us and no one can reach us or locate the strike,” said Gaza resident Um Yehia, who went south after the Israeli warning and is now sheltering inside the Nasir Hospital in Khan Younis.

Bilal Abu Mostafa’s barber shop was destroyed two weeks ago. Like many Gazans he has taken shelter in a hospital, where doctors are struggling to keep pace with casualties.

After dark he goes up into a hospital room to give hair cuts to “people severely burned or broken and can’t come downstairs”.

Here the Independent provides a live view from the viewpoint as dawn breaks over the hospital.

Warning: This livestream may contain scenes that some viewers find distressing.

At least 60 people have been detained after a huge crowd of pro-Palestinian protesters stormed an airport in Russia’s Dagestan region, reportedly in search of a flight arriving from Israel.

The crowd of hundreds broke through security barriers and poured out onto the airfield and runway of Makhachkala airport on Sunday evening, with videos on social media showing many young men among the protesters carrying Palestinian flags.

Investigators have identified 150 people who were the most active protesters, the RIA news agency reported early on Monday morning. Nine police officers sustained injuries in the incident, two of whom were being treated in hospital, the authorities said.

All of Australia’s living former prime ministers, except for Paul Keating, issued a statement on Monday in support of Israel and called for solidarity with Jewish Australians.

The joint statement was signed by Scott Morrison, Malcolm Turnbull, Tony Abbott, Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard and John Howard.

The prime ministers called on Hamas to release hostages taken in the 7 October attacks, while urging Israel to avoid civilian casualties in Gaza.

“If our hearts are filled with hatred, then we will be doing the terrorists’ work,” the statement read.“No complaint or concern about international affairs justifies hate speech against any Australian, or any Australian community.

“We believe we speak for the vast majority of Australians, of all faiths and of none, when we say we stand in solidarity with Jewish Australians at this time.

“Likewise, we stand too with the Australian Palestinian community whose families are dying and suffering in this terrible conflict.”

They added: “We are horrified by the thousands of deaths and injuries inflicted on innocent Palestinian civilians, including many, many Palestinian children.”

“We endorse, as we did in office, the Australian government’s enduring support for a two-state solution as the basis for long-term lasting peace between the Israeli and Palestinian peoples.”

Israeli air strikes targeted two army posts in Daraa in southwestern Syria, Reuters reported, citing local media.

The raids led to “some material losses”, it added.

The Israeli military earlier said rockets were fired from Syria, which fell into open Israeli territory. The Israeli forces retaliated, firing back at the site from which the rockets were launched.

Hamas could be preventing British nationals from leaving Gaza, US president Joe Biden’s security adviser has suggested.

Jake Sullivan, the White House national security adviser, said Egypt and Israel were prepared to allow foreign nationals to leave Gaza via the Rafah crossing.

But he said the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which rules the bombarded territory, had not agreed to terms that would grant foreigners an opportunity to depart for Egypt and reach safety.

The Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza is the only border point in the territory that is not controlled by Tel Aviv.

Vice president Kamala Harris said the US has “absolutely no intention” of sending American troops to support Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza.

“We have absolutely no intention nor do we have any plans to send combat troops into Israel or Gaza, period,” Ms Harris said in a “60 Minutes” interview.

She argued that Israel had a right to defend itself after Hamas slaughtered hundreds of young people at a concert.

“By most estimates, at least 1,400 Israelis are dead,” she said, adding: “That being said, it is very important that there be no conflation between Hamas and the Palestinians.”

Ms Harris continued: “The Palestinians deserve equal measures of safety and security, self-determination and dignity”.

“And we have been very clear that the rules of war must be adhered to, and that there be humanitarian aid that flows.”