At Least Eight Reported Dead as Israeli Tanks Enter Deir Al-Balah
Israeli tanks advanced into southern and eastern sections of the Gazan city of Deir Al-Balah for the first time on Monday, an area where, according to Israeli sources, the military suspects some of the remaining hostages may be held by Hamas, as reported by Reuters.
Medical personnel in Gaza reported at least three Palestinians killed and several injured in tank fire that struck eight homes and three mosques in the area. The attack followed a military directive issued the previous day ordering residents to evacuate, stating that operations against Hamas militants were planned.
The incursion and shelling forced numerous families who had stayed behind to flee westward toward Deir Al-Balah's coastal zone and nearby Khan Younis.
Earlier on Monday in Khan Younis, an Israeli airstrike killed at least five people, including a man, his wife, and their two children, inside a tent, according to medical officials.
There was no immediate Israeli response regarding the incidents in Deir Al-Balah and Khan Younis.
Israel’s military stated that it had not entered the parts of Deir Al-Balah covered by the evacuation order during the ongoing conflict and emphasized that it continues to “operate with significant force to dismantle the adversary’s capabilities and militant infrastructure in the area.”
Israeli sources indicated that the military’s previous avoidance of the area was due to suspicions that Hamas might be holding hostages there.
Of the approximately 50 remaining hostages in Gaza, at least 20 are thought to still be alive.
Relatives of the hostages voiced their distress over their loved ones and called on the military to clarify its plans to ensure their safety.
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