Senior Israeli commander killed amid 'prolonged' and intense Gaza battles

Palestinian fighters killed an Israeli commander of an armoured brigade's battalion in Gaza, the Israeli army said on Thursday.  

Lt Col Salman Habaka became the 18th soldier to be killed in Gaza in two days of heavy fighting. He is the most senior Israeli soldier to be killed since the ground offensive escalated on Tuesday. 

Reports of close combat continued to emerge since Tuesday in at least four fronts along the outskirts of Gaza's eastern and northern towns and cities.

The Israeli army radio said that "prolonged" and intense fighting took place overnight after Israeli infantry troops were ambushed by Palestinian fighters. The report said 20 Hamas fighters died while the army said it killed "dozens of operatives" without providing further details.

Middle East Eye could not independently verify these claims.  

Hamas has not commented on the reported number of casualties.