Tens of thousands of people were warned to flee the city, where many displaced Palestinians have been sheltering and it's thought some Israeli hostages are held.

Staff Sgt. Amit Cohen killed in Khan Younis; hostage families alarmed by new ground offensive; undercover troops said to nab Hamas health official in Rafah

Israel's military has begun a ground operation in the central Gazan city of Deir al Balah, with smoke seen rising from the city this afternoon. Follow below for the latest updates.

Gaza health officials said Monday at least 13 people, including two women and five children, were killed in Israeli strikes since the previous night.

Israeli tanks moved into Deir Al-Balah in Gaza, targeting areas where hostages might be held. The incursion and airstrike led to casualties and prompted families to flee. Gaza faces a dire humanitarian situation,

As Israeli forces launch a ground and air offensive in the city of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, we'll be monitoring the situation and verifying footage. Right now our team is looking at the latest satellite images that show there were many displaced people in the area