Israeli forces have advanced further into the northern Gaza Strip, cutting off an evacuation route to the south, according to witnesses. Video footage shows a tank on Salah al-Din Road, fueling speculation that there may be an advance towards Gaza City. The tank can be seen opening fire and destroying a car that approached it.

In a separate operation, Israel's military said that it had successfully rescued a soldier held hostage by Hamas. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the rescue as an "exciting achievement" and a display of Israel's commitment to free the remaining hostages. Hamas had released a video earlier showing three Israeli women in captivity, demanding a prisoner exchange.

The conflict has taken a devastating toll on the Gaza Strip, with over 8,300 people killed and essential supplies of food, water, fuel, and medicine dangerously scarce. Aid agencies have called for a ceasefire to allow humanitarian aid into the besieged territory. However, Netanyahu has rejected these calls, stating that to pause military operations would be a surrender to terrorism.

Satellite images from the New York Times provide a rare view of the IDF's maneuvers in Gaza. The images show tanks entering Gaza from the north and moving south towards densely populated areas. The ground is littered with craters and buildings reduced to rubble. The military claims to have targeted underground fortifications throughout the fighting.