Israel has bombarded Khan Yunis, the largest city in southern Gaza, as the families of hostages held by Hamas urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reach a deal to secure their release. Witnesses reported deadly strikes overnight in Khan Yunis and fierce fighting between Israeli soldiers and Hamas militants. Netanyahu has vowed “complete victory” over Hamas after attacks by the Islamist movement’s fighters on October 7 that resulted in the deaths of about 1,140 people, mostly civilians.
Hamas militants also seized about 250 hostages, and Israel says around 132 remain in besieged Gaza. The war has spurred fears of a wider escalation, and sirens were heard again overnight in northern Israel near the border with Lebanon. There have been almost daily exchanges of fire between Israeli forces and the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement in Lebanon, and several areas of southern Lebanon were hit overnight.
