Now, as the presumed new Hamas commander in Gaza, Izz al-Din al-Haddad holds the fate of the hostages and, to a large extent, the entire Strip in his blood-stained hands. “He was always recognised by our people as one of the more capable commanders,” said Maj Gen Yaakov Amidror, Israel’s former national security adviser.

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has closed its aid distribution sites for the day, without giving a date on when they would open again.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that Israel is arming a clan within the Gaza Strip to fight Hamas, the

Israel’s critics, including former allies and legal scholars, say the scale of destruction, the targeting of vital infrastructure, and severe restrictions on humanitarian aid violate international law.

The Israeli military said in a statement that troops had opened fire in southern Gaza but said that it had directed warning shots at a group that was moving towards soldiers and deemed a threat to them.