Deir al-Balah is an important area of Gaza because it has been left relatively untouched throughout the war. This is the last real remaining area of Hamas' power.

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli ground troops for the first time Monday pushed into areas of a central Gaza city where several aid groups are based, in what appeared to be the latest effort to carve up the Palestinian territory with military corridors.

Israeli tanks on Monday rolled into a part of central Gaza that has not previously seen ground operations in the 21-month war, according to Israeli media, aid agencies and witnesses.

Gen. Eyal Zamir has made it clear that he does not want to endanger the remaining living 20 Israeli hostages held by Hamas in the 25% of Gaza that the IDF has not taken over.

Top Hamas terrorist behind rocket fire on southern Israel, deadly attacks on IDF forces, is eliminated in precision strike after surviving a previous assassination attempt.

Israeli-American Keith Siegel was seized in the Hamas attack, he says a deal to bring home the remaining hostages must be made "as soon as possible."