American officials have told the Israelis that a major bombardment risks sparking a humanitarian crisis that overwhelms the world’s capacity to respond.

Israel says Palestinians have been freed after nine women, a child and two foreign nationals were handed to the Red Cross

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) plans to extend its ground operation to southern Gaza, having nearly cleared overground Hamas military infrastructure in the enclave’s north, an Israeli military official said on Tuesday.

Two Israeli army gunboat shooting incidents have been reported off the coast near Khan Younis and Deir el-Balah.

The militant group Hamas launched an unprecedented attack in southern Israel on October 7 in which around 1,200 people have died, most of them civilians.

A fragile truce between Israel and Hamas held for a fifth day on Tuesday, and the militant group has promised to release more hostages