Intense fighting continues in the southern Gaza Strip as US and British forces bombard Houthi militias in Yemen.
The Israeli army says its forces have surrounded the town of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip. The second city of the Palestinian enclave has been the scene of violent fighting in recent days, leaving dozens of Palestinians dead and injured.
Israeli officials said top Hamas leaders may be hiding in tunnels beneath the city. Khan Younes is the hometown of Yehya Sinwar, the main Hamas leader in Gaza, whose whereabouts are unknown.
For his part, the head of European diplomacy Josep Borrell called on Israel to curb its military operations:“I think that more deaths, more destruction, more difficulties for the people of Gaza, for the Palestinian people, will not contribute to defeating Hamas or its ideology. It will not bring more security to Israel. On the contrary .”
Further south, tensions in the Red Sea raise fears of a regional extension of the conflict.
American and British forces again bombarded Houthi rebel sites.
This is the eighth strike since January 12.
