FIERCE FIGHTING IN GAZA AS MANY MORE ARE SET TO LEAVE - ISRAELI DEATH COUNT RISES!

 Gaza has witnessed fierce fighting overnight - with a live feed capturing sounds of explosions and bright flames on the horizon

1. The Israeli military says it's killed dozens of Hamas fighters - having earlier said its troops had broken through the group's defensive lines
2. More civilians are expected to leave Gaza via the Rafah crossing today; the UN says more than 400 people used the crossing yesterday for the first time since the war broke out.
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4. Responding to a heckler during a speech, US President Joe Biden said there had to be a "pause" in fighting to facilitate the release of Hamas's hostages
5. Israel has been bombing Gaza since the 7 October Hamas attacks that killed 1,400 people, with 239 people kidnapped as hostages
6. The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says more than 8,900 people have been killed since Israel's retaliatory bombing began - and Israel have lost 12 soldiers in their latest advance.

7. Israeli military faces massive challenge

   

   Jeremy Bowen

   International editor, reporting from southern Israel

   One of the biggest questions here is: what is the endgame for the Israeli military?

   The government here is under a lot of pressure to answer what on earth it is they want out of this, apart from saying they want to wipe Hamas off the face of the earth.

   And, wiping out an idea is much, much more difficult than wiping out men with guns.

   If we look at the fight against jihadists in Syria and Iraq, many of the jihadists were killed - but the act of killing them was actually used as a recruiting method to attract more people to join the cause.

   But, assuming the Israelis get to a point where their military agenda is satisfied, there is also the question of how to govern 2.5 million people in a territory which is only 140 square miles and is absolutely ravaged by war.

   It’s going to be a massive challenge.

8. Israel says 242 hostages taken by Hamas

   In the daily IDF briefing, spokesman Daniel Hagari says the military has contacted the families of 242 hostages being held in Gaza.

   The last reported number was 239.

   Hamas say they have hidden the hostages across Gaza, including in tunnels. Last week, they said at least 50 hostages had been killed by Israeli air strikes - a figure that can't be verified.

   And yesterday, Hamas said seven hostages were killed in an air strike on the Jabalia refugee camp.

9. Why the Rafah crossing is so important

   As we've been reporting, more civilians are expected to leave Gaza via the Rafah crossing today.

   Rafah is the southernmost exit from Gaza and borders Egypt's Sinai peninsula.

   There are only two other crossings into the Gaza Strip - Erez, a crossing into Israel in northern Gaza, which is for people, and Kerem Shalom, a solely commercial goods junction with Israel in southern Gaza. Both were shut as the war broke out and remain closed.

   So, critically Rafah is now also the only entry point for humanitarian aid - and the only exit point for people wanting to leave.

   Yesterday, the crossing was opening for controlled and limited time periods to allow civilians to cross to Egypt. The UN says 81 wounded Palestinians were taken to an Egyptian field hospital, and 345 foreign passport-holders used the crossing as well.

10. MORE DETAILS AT: Israel Gaza live news: Fierce fighting in Gaza as more civilians set to leave - BBC News