Israeli army advances deeper into Gaza

The strikes in Jabaliya underline the anticipated surge in casualties on both sides as Israeli troops advance toward the outskirts of Gaza City and its dense residential neighbourhoods. Israeli officials say Hamas’s military infrastructure, including hundreds of kilometres of underground tunnels, is concentrated in the city, which was home to some 650,000 people before the war.

Internet and phone service was cut for several hours on Wednesday in a replay of the temporary communications blackout when Israeli ground troops first advanced in large numbers into Gaza over the weekend.

Over half of Gaza’s 2.3 million people have fled their homes, and supplies of food, medicine, water and fuel are running low. A territory-wide blackout has left hospitals reliant on generators that could soon be forced to shut down. (AP)