Israeli ground forces and tanks entered the city of Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip for the first time since the conflict broke out in October 2023. The Israeli military had issued an order to evacuate civilians from the area a day earlier. The attack forced many families to move west of the city, towards the coastal area and neighboring Khan Younis city.
According to medical staff in Gaza, Israeli tanks fell on eight homes and three mosques in Deir Al-Balah, killing at least three Palestinians and injuring several others.
On the same day, Israel also carried out an airstrike in Khan Younis, killing at least five people, including a family of four. Israel has not yet commented on these incidents.
Israeli officials said the military had not yet entered certain areas in Deir Al-Balah due to suspicions that Hamas may be holding hostages there. Of the about 50 hostages believed to be still in the Gaza Strip, at least 20 are believed to be alive. The families of the hostages have expressed their concern, calling on the army to announce measures to ensure the safety of the detainees.
The Israeli military said it was "fighting with powerful forces to destroy the enemy's capabilities and infrastructure" in the area. Meanwhile, fighting continues to escalate as hospitals in Gaza are facing serious shortages of fuel, medicine and food.
Gaza health officials have warned of the risk of " mass deaths" from hunger, with at least 19 people killed since July 19. A day later, at least 67 people died while waiting to receive aid from the United Nations. However, the Israeli military said it had fired warning shots to remove the "immediate threat", accusing the casualty figures of exaggeration and saying it did not intentionally target relief vehicles.
Increasing attacks and increasing civilian casualties are seen as further hindering efforts to negotiate a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, currently mediated by Qatar and Egypt, with US support.
