Israel begins ‘localised raids’ in Gaza – as officials say 120 civilians are being held hostage by Hamas

Israeli infantry and tanks have carried out “localised raids” in Gaza – the first hint at a shift to ground assaults.

The small raids were carried out to attack Hamas rocket crews and seek information on the location of hostages taken by Palestinian gunmen last Saturday, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said.

It is the first time the Israeli military has stated ground troops have been operating inside the besieged strip, entering the territory to battle Hamas fighters and destroy weapons as well as search for evidence about the captives.

Early on Saturday morning, the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) said more than 120 civilians were being held hostage by Hamas inside the Gaza Strip.

Israeli media reported remains of people who had gone missing in last week’s attack had been found during the IDF raids.

According to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, armed forces entered an enclave where it is thought up to 200 people were being held hostage by Hamas, and retrieved the bodies of several people.

Shortly after the announcement, Hamas said 70 people, mostly women and children, had been killed in an Israeli airstrike on convoys fleeing Gaza City.

The cars were struck in three places as they headed south from the city, it said.

Follow live: Gazans told ‘go south if you want to live’

It was not immediately clear who the target of the airstrikes was, or whether militants were among the passengers.

Israel said fighter jets had continued to carry out wide-scale attacks against Hamas targets throughout the Gaza Strip.

Palestinians began a mass exodus in the north of Gaza after Israel’s military warned more than a million people to evacuate to the southern part of the territory across the Wadi Gaza – a piece of coastal wetland with a river running through the middle – to “save their lives”.

Israel has issued a statement in Arabic, offering safe movement for Gazans on two main roads.

Early on Saturday, Israeli military spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus said: “We have seen a significant movement of Palestinian civilians towards the south.

“Around the Gaza Strip, Israeli reserve soldiers in formation (are) getting ready for the next stage of operations.

“They are all around the Gaza Strip, in the south, in the centre and in the north, and they are preparing themselves for whatever target they get, whatever task.”

Hamas militants have vowed to fight and told residents to stay, urging them “not to fall” for “fake propaganda”.

For nearly a week, Israel’s military has been launching retaliatory airstrikes on Gaza targeting Hamas since the ruling Palestinian militant group stormed the border last weekend, killing hundreds of Israelis in their homes – as well as 260 others at a music festival.

The Palestinian health ministry said 1,900 people have been killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza, including hundreds of women and children, and more than 7,600 people were injured.

Israel said a total of 1,300 of its people have been killed since Saturday’s surprise raid as its troops continue to mass along the barbed wire fence ahead of a possible ground offensive on Gaza, with 300,000 reservists called up.

Meanwhile, the United Nations has said it was “impossible” for Palestinians to move to the south of Gaza within the 24-hour deadline set, which passed on Saturday at 3am UK time.

The UN’s Palestinian refugee agency has warned Gaza was becoming a “hell hole” and was on the “brink of collapse”.

In other key developments:
• It’s “highly likely” Britons among hostages
• Israel denies claims it used white phosphorous as a weapon in Gaza and Lebanon
• Protests around the world show support for Palestinians
• Humza Yousaf’s mother-in-law shares tearful plea from Gaza

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the UN “considers it impossible for such a movement to take place without devastating humanitarian consequences”.

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The IDF said “this evacuation is for your own safety”, but in response, Hamas has called the warning “fake propaganda” and urged Palestinians “not to fall for it”.

The UN has appealed for the order to be rescinded to avoid turning “what is already a tragedy into a calamitous situation”.

Read more on this story:
Why Israel is braced for Hezbollah attack from Lebanon
How negotiators will be working to free Hamas hostages

The World Health Organisation has also called for the order to be immediately reversed to protect health and reduce suffering.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Amman on Friday he “rejects the forced displacement” of Palestinians in Gaza.