Israeli bombardment of central Gaza continues fiercely, with Israeli soldiers constantly advancing to new positions, strengthening their control over the northern Gaza Strip, from where tens of thousands of Palestinians have fled to the south. According to the emissary of SKAI in Israel, Stavros Ioannidis it’s a matter of time to start the special operations even in central Hamas headquarters. At the same time, the fighting continues underground with the IDF announcing that they destroyed 130 tunnels yesterday.

IDF: We captured new Hamas stronghold

Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces claim that troops from the Nahal Infantry Brigade captured another Hamas stronghold, known as Outpost 17, in western Jabaliya after 10 hours of fighting.

They claim the soldiers fought Hamas and Islamic Jihad operatives at the stronghold, who were both “above ground and on an underground route in the area”.

According to the IDF, dozens of terrorists were killed during the fighting. The troops spotted many weapons and revealed wells and tunnels, including one located next to a kindergarten that led to an “extensive underground route.”

Israel

Troops also found “significant” Hamas battle plans at Outpost 17, the IDF added, noting that the Air Force also struck hundreds of targets in the Gaza Strip yesterday.

Negotiations for a three-day humanitarian truce are ongoing

At the same time, they are in progress negotiations for a three-day humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza in exchange for the release of about 12 hostages held by Hamas, according to two officials from Egypt, one from the United Nations and a Western diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press.In his statements yesterday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ruled out any halt to his fire if not preceded by the release of the hostages taken by Hamas

The deal will allow more aid, including limited amounts of fuel, to enter the besieged area, giving the Palestinians there a respite. The mediation is being conducted by Qatar, Egypt and the United States, according to the officials and the diplomat.

One of the Egyptian officials says the details of the deal were discussed this week in Cairo with the visiting CIA chief and an Israeli delegation. The official said negotiators were finalizing a draft agreement.

The humanitarian “corridor” opens again

Yesterday almost Wednesday 50,000 of its inhabitants left Gaza Cityalways according to the Israeli military.

“They are leaving because they understand that Hamas has lost control in the north and that the situation is safer in the south,” Chahal spokesman Daniel Hagari said last night, adding that the “corridor” that has been open since November 5 for a few hours every day to southern Gaza so civilians can leave will operate again today, for four to five hours.

The number of people who have fled since November 5 is at least 72,000, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

However, hundreds of thousands of residents remain north of the Wadi Gaza, a stream that runs through the enclave from east to west, and there is a “catastrophic humanitarian situation”, according to OCHA.

“They are struggling to secure the minimum amounts of water and food they need for their survival,” according to the same source.

Overpopulation

After being able to reach the south, where hundreds of thousands of internally displaced people are piling up in dire conditions, Ola el Woul said the journey was “terrifying”: “There were so many of us (…) We were holding white flags. It’s true that we were afraid,” he said.

Over the weekend, the UN estimated that 1.5 million of the Gaza Strip’s 2.4 million residents have been displaced.

Overcrowding in the international agency’s shelters, particularly deteriorating sanitation, is a “major concern,” according to OCHA. According to the same source, basic foodstuffs are now “almost exhausted”.

Humanitarian aid continues to trickle in. OCHA reports 756 trucks since October 21, when the Rafah crossing to and from Egypt partially reopened.

However, yesterday no wounded Palestinians, foreigners or dual nationals were allowed to cross into Egypt through the Rafah crossing, as their expedited removals were halted for the second time since November 1, according to a Palestinian official.