Israel intensified its ground offensive in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, sending troops deep into the Palestinian territory and clashing with Hamas militants in fierce battles.

The Rafah border crossing is set to open Wednesday to allow injured Palestinians to be treated in Egyptian hospitals. The crossing has been closed since the outbreak of fighting on October 7 and is sporadically opened to allow entry of only a limited number of aid trucks.

The Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), said on Tuesday that it is ready to release, within a few days, some hostages with foreign nationalities it is holding in Gaza.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday stated that the amount of aid permitted into the Gaza Strip is "completely inadequate" to address the growing needs of the civilians caught in the escalating fighting.

Bolivia's government on Tuesday said it had broken diplomatic ties with Israel "in repudiation and condemnation of the aggressive and disproportionate Israeli military offensive" in the Gaza Strip.