Israel reports 10-hour battle at Hamas ‘stronghold’ as evacuation resumes
Israel has reported that after a 10-hour battle, Israeli forces have now taken over a Hamas “stronghold” in northern Gaza.
Hamas-run authorities say Israeli air strikes continued overnight including in Khan Younis in the south, where six people were reportedly killed.
An evacuation route, allowing people to leave northern Gaza for the south, has reopened for the fifth day. Israel says around 50,000 Palestinians left the Gaza City area on Wednesday via that route.
But the Rafah crossing into Egypt is currently closed again. Hamas wants more injured Palestinians to be let out alongside foreign passport holders.
The UN said on Wednesday that a medical convoy sent by the UN and partners was fired on in Gaza City.
Israel began bombing Gaza after the Hamas attacks on 7 October, which saw 1,400 people killed and more than 200 people kidnapped. Those kidnapped are being held in tunnels in Gaza.
The Hamas-run health ministry claims more than 10,500 people have been killed in Gaza, including more than 4,300 children.