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Israeli army clears western part of Gaza City — defense minister

Yoav Gallant also said that "the military uncovered significant material in its operation at the Shifa hospital", without elaborating further

TEL AVIV, November 16. The Israeli military has cleared the western part of Gaza City and moves on to the next phase of the operation in the Palestinian enclave," Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said.

"We've taken over and cleared the western part of Gaza City and are moving on to the next phase of the operation," Gallant was quoted by Ynet news portal.

"The deeper we go, the more pressure is put on Hamas. That will increase the chances of returning our hostages," he said. The defense minister also said that "the military uncovered significant material in its operation at the Shifa hospital", without elaborating further.

Tensions flared up again in the Middle East on October 7 after militants from the Gaza Strip-based radical Palestinian group Hamas launched a surprise incursion on Israeli territory, killing many Israeli kibbutz residents living near the Gaza border and abducting more than 200 Israelis, including women, children and the elderly. Hamas described its attack as a response to Israeli authorities’ aggressive actions against the Al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem’s Old City. Israel declared a total blockade of the Gaza Strip and launched bombardments of the enclave and some areas in Lebanon and Syria, as well as a ground operation against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Clashes are also reported in the West Bank.