Reuters. Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said on Tuesday (October 31) Israel's forces were "engaging in fierce, close quarters battles" as the country said it was attacking Hamas gunmen inside the Islamists' vast tunnel network beneath Gaza.
The tunnels are a key objective for Israel as it expands ground operations inside Gaza to wipe out the ruling Hamas movement following its gun rampage three weeks ago that Israeli authorities say killed over 1,400 people. Israel says 240 others were taken hostage and transported into Gaza.
Gaza health authorities say that 8,306 people, including 3,457 minors, have been killed in Israeli attacks since Oct. 7. U.N. officials say more than 1.4 million of Gaza's civilian population of about 2.3 million have been made homeless.
In southern Israel Tuesday, air raid sirens went off in the area of the Red Sea city of Eilat and Israel's military said it downed an approaching "aerial target". Hagari said there was no threat to the area.
