Street battles raged in Gaza City with Hamas fighters using tunnels to ambush Israeli forces, as the United States said Palestinians must govern Gaza post-war, countering Israeli comments that it would control security indefinitely.
Palestinian officials said 10,569 people had been killed as of Wednesday, 40% of them children. Israel says 33 of its soldiers have been killed, although the number is likely to be higher.
The Israeli military claimed its troops had advanced into the ‘heart of Gaza City’, Hamas’ main bastion and the biggest city in the seaside enclave, while the resistance group said its fighters had inflicted heavy losses on invading forces.
The Palestinian health ministry said on Thursday nine Palestinians were killed and at least 15 others were injured by Israeli forces in a raid on Jenin city and refugee camp in the occupied West Bank. Israel’s military said it was conducting counter-terrorism raids in Jenin, but gave no further details. The armed wing of Hamas said it had killed a greater number of Israeli soldiers than the military has announced, and destroyed dozens of tanks, bulldozers, and other vehicles. It released footage of fighters firing anti-tank rockets and scoring direct hits to vehicles.
Israeli tanks have met heavy resistance from Hamas fighters using underground tunnels to stage ambushes, according to sources within Hamas and the separate Islamic Jihad resistance group.
Thousands of Palestinians have sought refuge at Al Shifa Hospital inside Gaza City despite Israel’s orders to evacuate the area it has encircled.
They are sheltering in tents on the hospital grounds and say they have nowhere else to go.
