IDF spokesman Vice Admiral Daniel Hagari announced at a press conference that the army recovered the body of an additional hostage from the Gaza Strip.

The hostage is 53-year-old Ron Benjamin, who was kidnapped by Hamas on the morning of October 7.

Hagari informed that Benjamin was killed by Hamas on October 7 near Mefalsim and his body was taken to Gaza.

Meanwhile, Mr The Israeli military is calling on Palestinians in additional northern Gaza neighborhoods to evacuate the area as it continues its operation against Hamas in Jambaliya.

Lt. Col. Avichay Adraee, the IDF’s Arabic-speaking spokesman, published a list of the new zones to be evacuated along with the announcement.

Last weekend, the Israeli military issued an evacuation warning for Jambaliya, before operating in the area. It has since expanded the evacuation zone twice with the latest announcement to include al-Atatra and al-Karama areas on the coast.

Palestinian citizens are urged to move to shelters west of Gaza City.

The IDF’s operation against Hamas in Jabaliya began after the Palestinian armed group regrouped there.

Israeli cordon tightens in Rafah – Fierce attacks in northern Gaza as well

The war in Gaza is escalating with Israel launching fierce attacks on all fronts both in the north and in Rafah. In recent hours the Israeli army has been operating in the al-Salam and al-Jenina neighborhood as well as the Philadelphia Corridor along the Egyptian border.

In Rafah, Israeli troops clashed with Palestinian militants, with residents reporting that Israeli air and ground shelling continued throughout the night.

“Troops are advancing and operating around these areas,” security sources said.

Cairo, which has been involved in mediation efforts during the war, has warned that a possible seizure of the Philadelphia corridor by Israel would be seen as a violation of the 1979 peace accord with Egypt, AFP reports.

Meanwhile, to the north in Beit Lahia district, witnesses reported airstrikes near Kamal Adwan Hospital on Saturday, according to the news agency.

Israel has resumed military offensives in areas of northern Gaza where it had declared an end to major operations in January.

Fighting is taking place in the Jabalia area, home to the largest of the eight historic refugee camps in the Gaza Strip. On Saturday, troops and tanks entered the city’s streets with medical sources saying 15 Palestinians were killed and dozens wounded.

At the same time, the Israeli military announced that underground infrastructure and a large quantity of weapons were detected during operations in eastern Rafah by Givati ​​and the 401st Brigade

In recent weeks, the Givati ​​and 401 brigades – under the command of the 162nd Division – have been conducting precision operations against Hamas and its infrastructure in specific areas of eastern Rafah.

In their statement, the Israeli forces say that during operations conducted by the Givati ​​Brigade, the soldiers killed more than 80 Hamas fighters in the area. In targeted raids, Jabbar Battalion soldiers recovered large quantities of weapons, including dozens of rifles, grenades and ammunition.