Israel hammers Gaza's south, hostage families urge Netanyahu to seek deal
The Hindu
Israeli army bombards Khan Younis in Gaza as families of hostages urge Prime Minister Netanyahu to secure their release.
The Israeli army bombarded Khan Younis, the new epicentre of the war in Gaza, on January 22 as the families of hostages held by Hamas urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reach a deal to secure their release.
Witnesses reported deadly strikes overnight in Khan Younis, the largest city in southern Gaza, and fierce fighting between Israeli soldiers and Hamas militants.
OPINION | Israel is fighting in the dark in Gaza
Mr. Netanyahu has vowed "complete victory" over Hamas after attacks by the Islamist movement's fighters on October 7 that resulted in the deaths of about 1,140 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.
Hamas militants also seized about 250 hostages and Israel says around 132 remain in besieged Gaza.
The war has spurred fears of a wider escalation, and sirens were heard again overnight in northern Israel near the border with Lebanon, according to the Israeli military.
There have been almost daily exchanges of fire between Israeli forces and the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement in Lebanon, and several areas of southern Lebanon were hit overnight.
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