Israeli forces have stormed the Hamas front line in northern Gaza in a breakthrough for the ground operation to eradicate the terror group.
Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, spokesman for the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), said it was the latest sign that “the ground operation is progressing as planned”.
He said on Wednesday: “With planning in advance, precise intelligence, and joint attacks [from the land, air, and sea], our forces broke through Hamas’s front lines of defense in the north of the Gaza Strip.”
It comes as Israel launched a second strike around the Jabalia refugee camp, a key Hamas stronghold, which the military said had killed the group’s anti-tanks commander.
Some 15 Israeli troops have been killed in the fighting since Tuesday as ground fighting continues to escalate.
Meanwhile, an unspecified number of first Britons left the newly opened Rafah border crossing along with a reported 335 other foreign nationals, though many remain trapped in Gaza.
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Here’s a summary of the main developments on Wednesday.
The first British nationals, of an unspecified number, crossed the Rafah border crossing from Gaza into Egypt along with more than 300 other foreign nationals and 76 wounded people.
Meanwhile, many of the 200 British citizens trapped in Gaza were being turned away from the Rafah crossing hours after it opened - as MPs criticised the Government for failing to provide clear information.
Fifteen young Israeli soldiers have been killed fighting in Gaza, the country’s military said as it intensified its ground operation in the Hamas-controlled enclave.
Israeli forces stormed the Hamas front line in northern Gaza in a breakthrough for the ground mission to eradicate the terror group.
The Israeli military said it has killed Hamas’s anti-tank system chief along with another commander in air strikes targeted on a Hamas stronghold at the territory’s biggest refugee camp, Jabalia.
Seven hostages, including three foreign passport holders, were allegedly killed in Israel’s bombing of the refugee camp, Hamas claimed.
Jordan said it had recalled its ambassador from Israel and told Israel’s ambassador to remain out of the country in protest over the “humanitarian catastrophe” in Gaza.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian warned of “harsh consequences” if attacks continue on the Gaza Strip, the latest in a series of warnings from the country.
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Israeli soldiers cry as they attend the funeral of Staff Sgt. Lavi Lipshitz, who was killed during a ground operation Credit: Ilia Yefimovich / Avalon
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