Israel has said it conducted a "targeted" raid on terrorist sites in northern Gaza using tanks overnight, before leaving the area, as part of what it called "preparations for the next stages of combat." A ground invasion of Gaza is widely expected.
President Joe Biden has called on Israel to consider a “pause” to its military offensive against Hamas militants to allow aid to enter Gaza as the humanitarian crisis there worsens.
International calls for a cease-fire have been rejected by Israel, which also angrily denounced U.N. Secretary General António Guterres over comments about the conflict. The IDF said it hit 250 targets in Gaza in the last 24 hours.
The United Nations has warned that hospitals in Gaza are on the brink of closing and its humanitarian efforts may be forced to pause due to a lack of fuel in the enclave.
More than 7,000 people have been killed in Gaza, according to Palestinian health officials. In Israel, 1,400 people have been killed, including 309 members of the military, the IDF said. At least 224 people were taken hostage during the Oct. 7 terror attack — many of them foreigners.
NBC News’ Richard Engel, Raf Sanchez, Kelly Cobiella, Josh Lederman, Matt Bradley, Ellison Barber, Meagan Fitzgerald, Jay Gray, Hala Gorani, Chantal Da Silva and Alexander Smith are reporting from the region.
