Rocket barrage fired by Hamas into central Israel at noon on Monday as former Israeli army chief Amir Avivi pointed out that Israel was close to “full control” of northern Gaza.

Hamas attacks have left a 45-year-old man injured by shrapnel in his leg when a rocket hit the town of Holon, next to Tel Aviv.

According to Israeli authorities, Hamas has fired more than 10,000 rockets at Israel since October 7.

The same time, former Israeli army chief Amir Avivi said that “within a week or two, the IDF will be in full control of the northern part of the Gaza Strip.”

“It is a very dense area, a stronghold of Hamas, but geographically this is only 20% of the Gaza Strip.

“But it’s a significant achievement,” he added.

Since the start of the ground operation, 104 Israeli soldiers have been killed, according to figures released by the army. In addition, the IDF reported that 582 soldiers have been injured inside the Gaza Strip.

Authorities in Gaza say for their part that nearly 18,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli military actions there since October 7. In addition, more than 200 Palestinians have been killed in the occupied West Bank during the same period.

Italy, France, Germany call for sanctions against Hamas

Meanwhile, Italy, France and Germany called on the European Union to impose ad hoc sanctions against Hamas and its supporters, Reuters reported, saying it had seen a letter written by the country’s foreign ministers to its foreign policy chief. EE Joseph Borel.

“We express our full support for the… proposal to establish an ad hoc sanctions regime against Hamas and its supporters,” the letter said.

“The rapid adoption of this sanctions regime will allow us to send a strong political message about the European Union’s commitment to Hamas and our solidarity with Israel.”

The humanitarian crisis is worsening

Also, the Kerem Shalom crossing between Israel and Gaza did not open on Monday, Israeli officials said, despite hopes that more humanitarian aid could enter Gaza after it opens.

Israel announced last week that it would open the crossing to inspect humanitarian aid trucks “in the coming days.” British Defense Secretary Grant Shapps, who visited Israel last week, said on Monday that the crossing would “open today”. However, the Coordinator of Governmental Activities in the Territories of Israel (COGAT) said on Monday that while he was ready to inspect more aid at the crossing, he could not do so because the aid did not arrive there.