Israel targets Hamas underground tunnels in Gaza as Benjamin Netanyahu govt expands ground operations

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government has expanded ground operations in Gaza and ruled out any ceasefire in the war that started on October 7 following a terror attack by Hamas that killed 1,400 in Israel.

"Over the last day, during ground operations: Numerous Hamas terrorists have been eliminated, the IAF struck terrorist targets and infrastructure, IDF combat forces struck approximately 300 targets, including anti-tank missiles posts, rocket launch posts, terrorist compounds inside underground tunnels," posted the Israel Defense Forces on X, formerly Twitter.

The death toll from Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip has exceeded 8,500 and over 21,000 people have been injured, the Palestinian Health Ministry said on Tuesday.

The UN earlier in the day said that Gaza has become a “graveyard” for children with thousands now killed under Israeli bombardment, while more than a million face dire shortages of essentials and a lifetime of trauma ahead.

UN relief chief Martin Griffiths, who has been visiting Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, spoke to families in Gaza over the phone from east Jerusalem on Tuesday and said that what they have endured since the start of Israel’s retaliation for Hamas’ deadly 7 October attacks is “beyond devastating”.

However, Benjamin Netanyahu Monday said that a ceasefire in its war with Gaza "will not happen" as it would mean "to surrender" to Hamas.

Speaking at a press conference, Netanyahu said that other countries must provide more help in the struggle to free more than 230 hostages seized by Hamas in its October 7 attacks.

He said the international community must demand the captives "be freed immediately, unconditionally".

On October 7, Palestinian movement Hamas launched a surprise large-scale rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip.

Israel launched retaliatory strikes and ordered a complete blockade of the Gaza Strip, home to more than 2 million people, cutting off supplies of water, food, and fuel.

The escalation of the conflict has resulted in thousands of people being killed and injured on both sides.