ISRAEL TO FOCUS ON NORTH GAZA, THE SEAT OF HAMAS COMMANDERS

As part of the Israeli Defence Forces' (IDF) counteroffensive, Operation Iron Sword, in retaliation to the gruesome attacks on Israel by Hamas terrorists, the Israeli military has reported that it has eliminated two Hamas commanders responsible for the deadly incursion from across the border a week ago on 7 October. The individuals targeted were Merad Abu Merad, the leader of Hamas' aerial system, and Ali Qadi, a commander of a commando force within the organisation.

- RATNADEEP CHAKRABORTY

The IDF is focusing on north Gaza as it continues its war against Hamas. Jonathan Conricus, a spokesperson of the IDF mentioned at a press conference that "most of the Hamas commanders are located in the north." The IDF further advised approximately 1.1 million Palestinians to move to the southern part of the enclave through the evacuation corridors, but Hamas encouraged residents to remain in their homes and oppose the Israeli military's evacuation directives. This comes at a time when Israel is set to launch a ground offensive. The United Nations said that 423,000 Gazans had left prior to Israel's order.

The sirens kept blaring as Hamas sent rockets in retaliation towards the southern parts of Israel, destroying homes in the towns of Sderot and Ashkelon. In a statement, Hamas also claimed to have launched an Ayyash 250 rocket from the Gaza Strip towards northern Israel, triggering concern in the upper and central Galilee regions, including Safed.

The Israeli government has cut water and electricity supplies to Gaza temporarily, resulting in Gaza running out of fuel. The clinics in Gaza are overcrowded with patients as health care workers mention a dire situation as aerial bombardments continue. The health authorities in Gaza reported over 1,900 deaths and nearly 7,700 wounded.

THE HOSTAGE CRISIS