Israel signals wider offensive in southern Gaza

Israeli forces may be expanding their fight in Gaza to the south – dropping leaflets telling people in four southern cities to evacuate.

Many of the Palestinians being told to leave have already fled their homes in the north, following earlier evacuation orders from Israel.

Communications in Gaza are down tonight, due to a lack of fuel according to Palestinian Telecom companies, leaving people without mobile phone or internet services again.

The blackout comes as hundreds of Israeli troops continue their search at the Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, looking for proof of a Hamas command centre it says operates underneath.

Near the hospital, Israeli troops say they have discovered the body of one of the hostages abducted by Hamas during the October 7th attack.

All this as the humanitarian situation in Gaza gets even worse.