Israel continues bombing Gaza, says Hamas commander killed

Despite international calls for a humanitarian ceasefire, Israel continued heavy bombings on the densely populated Gaza Strip on Wednesday.

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Daniel Hagari said during a press conference on Wednesday that ground forces have broken through Hamas' front lines of defense in the northern Gaza Strip.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said during a visit of armored troops deployed on the Gaza border that Israel would continue coordinated strikes on Gaza from the air, ground and sea, and the military has taken actions to expose tunnels to "deal heavy blows to enemies within."

The Israeli military revealed in a statement that based on intelligence from the IDF and the U.S. Intelligence Support Activity (ISA), an IDF fighter jet struck Muhammad A'sar, head of Hamas anti-tank missile unit who had commanded "numerous missile attacks" on Israeli targets.

Israel continues bombing Gaza

The area around Al Quds Hospital in Gaza has endured heavy bombardment from the Israeli military, causing massive explosions that have left medical personnel and civilians in a state of panic, according to Palestine Red Crescent Society on Wednesday.

Since the break out of the conflict on October 7, Israel has frequently targeted the areas surrounding Al Quds Hospital, resulting in damage to parts of the hospital.

Palestinian Health Minister Mai al-Kaila said the Turkish hospital was out of service under Israeli strikes and fuel shortage. Gaza medical officials also warned that the work of the largest Shifa Medical Complex, other hospitals and health institutions would stop within hours due to the exhaustion of fuel needed to operate electrical generators.

At least 195 Palestinians were killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza's Jabalia refugee camp on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Hamas-run government media office said. Some 120 were still missing under the rubble, and at least 777 more were wounded, the office said in a statement.

Death toll of Palestinian-Israeli conflict exceeds 10,000

Palestinian health officials said more than 50 people were killed following an Israeli airstrike on the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza on Tuesday. Hamas said seven of its hostages, including three holding foreign passports, were killed in the Israeli bombing of the refugee camp.

The number of Palestinian casualties in Gaza has now reached at least 8,796, including 3,648 children and 2,290 women, according to the Gaza-based health ministry. Meanwhile, in the occupied West Bank, more than 132 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli troops and settlers.

International aid

On Wednesday, the first group of some 500 foreign passport holders and some 80 injured left Gaza as the Rafah crossing to Egypt opened to civilians for the first time in more than three weeks, Xinhua reported, citing Egyptian and Palestinian sources. 

Meanwhile, a total of 55 trucks of medical supplies and humanitarian aid have entered the Gaza Strip via the Rafah crossing, with 100 trucks carrying aid are expected to enter Gaza the next day, according to Egypt's Al-Ahram newspaper. 

Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), crossed into Gaza on Wednesday, where he met with Palestinian civilians and other UNRWA colleagues working in the territory, according to the Times of Israel. 

On the diplomatic front, Bolivia has severed its diplomatic ties with Israel, citing the Palestinian death toll in Gaza. Meanwhile, Jordan, Chile and Colombia have recalled their ambassadors.

Iran's supreme leader on Wednesday urged Muslim governments to unite and stop oil and other exports to Israel to pressure the latter to cease its attacks on Gaza.

(With input from agencies)