- (BBC News) Daniel Hagari, spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), says the Israeli military will “deepen” and “increase” its strikes on Gaza.
- At a press conference, he told reporters this would allow Israel to “minimize the risks to our forces in the next stages of the war” – and it would happen “from today.”
- Hagari repeated a call for residents of Gaza City to move to the south of the region, saying it was for their own safety.
- The warning comes on the same day aid was allowed into Gaza, from Egypt, for the first time since the Israel-Hamas war erupted.
- Despite some leaders celebrating the move, the UN called the aid a “drop in the ocean” of what is needed
- Meanwhile, the father of freed U.S. hostage Natalie Raanan – who was held captive by Hamas for almost two weeks – has spoken to the BBC.
- He said his daughter, 17, is a “tough girl,” and that “it’ll take time for her to get back to normal … but she’ll be fine.”
- It is two weeks since Hamas launched its assault on Israel, killing more than 1,400 people. Palestinian officials say more than 4,000 have been killed in Gaza since then.