Dozens of tanks roll into southern Gaza as rockets target central Israel, Beersheba

Dozens of tanks roll into southern Gaza as rockets target central Israel, Beersheba

EMANUEL FABIAN and MICHAEL BACHNER

Dozens of Israeli tanks entered the southern part of the Gaza Strip on Monday and were seen operating near Khan Younis, as the military pushed ahead with expanding its ground offensive into the area, where it believes Hamas leadership is hiding. Armored personnel carriers and bulldozers were also seen by witnesses.

Meanwhile, Palestinian terrorists fired rockets at central Israel, as well as southern towns and the city of Beersheba.

Some of the Israel Defense Forces tanks were seen on the southern part of Salah al-Din road, the Strip’s main north-south highway, which the army’s Arabic-language Spokesman declared to be a “battle zone.”

“The fighting and military advance of the IDF in the Khan Younis area does not allow the movement of civilians through the Salah al-Din axis in the areas north and east of the city,” Lt. Col. Avichay Adraee said on X, announcing a new humanitarian corridor in southern Gaza.

He said the IDF would facilitate the movement of civilians via a bypass route to the west of Khan Younis.

“Passage from the Rafah and Khan Younis areas toward Deir al-Balah and the camps of central Gaza will be available through the following routes: al-Rashid coastal road and al-Shuhada Street in Deir al-Balah,” he said.

Israel has vowed to topple Hamas after the October 7 massacres, in which Palestinian terrorists stormed across the border from Gaza and slaughtered some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took around 240 hostages.

On Monday morning, the IDF said the Air Force had carried out strikes against some 200 Hamas targets in Gaza overnight, including cars ferrying missiles and mortars for Hamas operatives, an anti-tank missile launch position, Hamas operatives and weapons depots.

The ground operation was continuing in northern Gaza as well. The military said its Negev Brigade had destroyed Hamas infrastructure inside a school in Beit Hanoun that was used by operatives to attack troops. Inside the school complex, forces found two tunnel entrances, including one that was booby-trapped, and other weapons.