Israel-Hamas War: Thousands Of Palestinians Flee South On Foot As Israeli Troops Enter Gaza's Heart

The Israel-Hamas conflict escalates with Israeli troops and Hamas operatives engaging in close-range battles in Gaza City.

Thousands of civilians flee south on foot to escape the conflict's epicenter as Israel enters the heart of the Gaza Strip.

As reported by NDTV, many are trapped in the encircled north, including those at Gaza City's Al Shifa hospital.

The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) is targeting Hamas infrastructure and tunnels, while Hamas' armed wing shared video evidence of street battles in Gaza City.

The conflict began when Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October, leading to civilian casualties and hostage-taking. Israel retaliated with an intense bombardment and ground invasion, causing further casualties.

Earlier, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refused international ceasefire calls, insisting on hostages' release.

Meanwhile, Hamas accuses Israel of preventing evacuations from Gaza to Egypt via the Rafah crossing.

In another development, US warplanes strike an Iran-linked weapons storage facility in eastern Syria in response to attacks against American personnel, marking the second such incident in two weeks.