ISRAEL REPORTS LARGE BATTLES WITH HAMAS IN GAZA GROUND FIGHTING

 Israel says there were "large exchanges" with Hamas in Gaza overnight as its ground offensive continues

1. The IDF says its forces were attacked by "terrorists" with anti-tank missiles and machine gun fire
2. Air strikes on the Gaza Strip also continued overnight - Israel says more than 300 targets were hit in total
3. Israel says it's focusing on northern Gaza but continues to strike "all parts of the Strip"
4. Hamas says it ambushed three Israeli vehicles with anti-tank missiles and attacked ground troops with shells in southern Gaza 
   
   
   
5. On Monday night, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected calls for a ceasefire in Gaza, saying "this is a time for war"
6. Israel has been bombing Gaza since the 7 October Hamas attacks that killed 1,400 people and saw at least 239 people kidnapped as hostages
7. The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says more than 8,000 people have been killed since Israel's retaliatory bombing began.

8. Drone attack on Eilat likely to have come from Yemen

   

   Jeremy Bowen

   International editor, reporting from Israel

   

   Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

   In normal times, Eilat is a tourist town and base for diving trips to the Red SeaImage caption: In normal times, Eilat is a tourist town and base for diving trips to the Red Sea

   As we reported earlier, a drone has been shot down in the town of Eilat in southern Israel. The assumption is that it came from Yemen and flew up the Red Sea.

   The Houthis who control the capital and large areas of Yemen have an alliance with Iran, and it is well known that Iran has a very advanced drone industry.

   So perhaps it was a so-called kamikaze drone - also known as a loitering munition that can wait around for its target.

   It's not the first time there have been attempts to fire up towards Israel from Yemen.

   Just last week, a US warship in the Red Sea intercepted missiles and drones shot by the Houthi rebels in Yemen flying towards Israel.

   Many evacuees from Gaza border villages are staying in tourist hotels in Eilat, so this is very alarming for them. Any sort of unknown aerial object will automatically trigger air raid sirens, forcing people to run for shelter.

   We’ve also heard from military personnel who are stationed in Eilat, and they are hiding out in shelters.

9. Israel accuses Hamas of 'hiding behind Palestinians'

   

   IDFCopyright: IDF

   An Israeli bulldozer inside Gaza, from footage released by the IDFImage caption: An Israeli bulldozer inside Gaza, from footage released by the IDF

   More now from IDF spokesman Peter Lerner, who tells BBC Breakfast that "Hamas is hiding behind Palestinians".

   Lerner says it is "a human tragedy on both sides of the fence. This is one of the reasons why Hamas needs to go. Everybody is suffering from this organisation".

   He accuses Hamas of putting "all of their capabilities in the civilian arena", including "explosive drones on the rooftops of houses" and "launching rockets from outside UN facilities".

   He also says more than 7,000 rockets have been fired from Gaza at Israel since 7 October.

   Previously, Lerner said Hamas was using hospitals in Gaza as "command positions, staging grounds, and human shields."

10. FULL DETAILS AT: Israel Gaza live news: Israel reports 'large' battles with Hamas in Gaza ground fighting - BBC News