Latest news on Gaza conflict

The Israeli offensive has now transitioned to a new phase targeting the labyrinthine web of underground tunnels stretching beneath Gaza City and nearby territories in the enclave, the latest military press briefings and official statements signal.

In a Tuesday speech, Israeli Defense Minister Yaiv Gallant said that the Gaza Strip is the “biggest terrorist base ever built by human race,” as “underground, long tunnels that connect to hospitals and schools are connected by them – they have communication rooms, ammunition warehouses, places to stay and everything in order to be used as a base of terrorism to harm the citizens of the State of Israel and the soldiers of the [Israel Defense Forces].”

He stressed that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, whom he accused of orchestrating the terror attacks of Oct. 7, is now “hiding in his bunker at this time his chain of command is eroding” — and vowed that the IDF will fulfil its mission to dismantle Hamas, strip away its military capabilities and return the over two hundred hostages that remain in the hands of the Palestinian militant group.

Israel has repeatedly said the Hamas underground network spans grounds below critical civilian facilities, which are used as shields for the tunnel infrastructure. CNBC could not independently confirm these reports.

The focus shift toward Hamas’ underground network marks a new phase in Israel’s war campaign against the besieged and resource-deprived Gaza Strip, amid recent advances from the IDF ground infantry. The Israeli military has increasingly been reporting tunnel discoveries, with NBC News reporting on the site of such findings.

— Ruxandra Iordache

A U.K. minister of Keir Starmer’s Labour opposition cabinet has resigned in order to “strongly advocate” for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas offensive.

In a resignation letter to Starmer shared on social media, Imran Hussain, now former shadow minister for the New Deal for Working People, writes, “It has become clear that my view on the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza differs substantially from the position you have adopted.”

He adds that, “given the crisis unfolding, I wish to be a strong advocate for the humanitarian ceasefire advocated by the UN General Secretary, the UN Commission for human rights and other humanitarian bodies,” and that Hussain “cannot sufficiently, in all good conscience, do this from the frontbench given its current position.”

Hussain further notes he was “deeply troubled” by comments made by Starmer in an Oct. 11 LBC interview, whereby the Labour leader “appeared to endorse such actions by Israeli military.”

In the interview, Starmer said that Israel has the right of self-defense and to withhold its resources from the besieged Gaza Strip, while disclaiming everything should be done in accordance with international law, according to LBC.

CNBC has reached out to Starmer for comment.

— Ruxandra Iordache

Israeli military has increasingly been focusing on the extensive labyrinth of underground tunnels that spans swathes of territory beneath northern Gaza. Used for both travel and shelter, the tunnels offer Hamas a strategic advantage to shield and ambush Israeli ground infantry, as well as move and store weapons and explosives.

Israel claims it has previously uncovered tunnels under civilian sites including the al-Shifa hospital — which CNBC has not been able to independently confirm.

On Tuesday, Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Daniel Hagari released further images and video footage, allegedly depicting the location of tunnel shafts near a Ferris wheel and university, according to a Google translation. CNBC could not verify the pictures.

— Ruxandra Iordache

The Israel Defense Forces are undertaking “significant military activity” in and around the embattled Gaza City, which it calls a “center of gravity” of Palestinian militant group Hamas, according to a spokesperson.

“Tonight there’s significant military activity in the northern part of Gaza City, we’re striking a few strongholds in Shati, which is a known stronghold, and we continue to fight in Jabalia, and we’re targeting Hamas wherever they are deployed,” IDF spokesperson Jonathan Conricus said in a TV conversation with the StandWithUS pro-Israel nonprofit organization.

“Our troops are in various locations engaging with the enemy, and I’m talking about infantry, armor, combat engineers, artillery, logistics, intelligence, that are all working together on the ground and below ground and going to the places where Hamas has been preparing itself.”

The IDF has been building positions around Gaza City and offering limited evacuation windows out of it since the weekend — stoking fears that the military is preparing to storm the site.

— Ruxandra Iordache

An Israeli military spokesperson signaled it is likely that the limited windows during which Israel stops shelling Gaza City to allow humanitarian evacuations will continue.

“Without committing to it, I can anticipate that tomorrow again we will open this humanitarian corridor,” Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Jonathan Conricus said in a TV interview with CNN, which was published overnight. The IDF say they have been interrupting fire to allow evacuations for limited stretches of time on multiple occasions since the weekend.

“It definitely serves the strategic aim of what we want to achieve: we want to fight Hamas and Hamas only. The civilians are not our enemy,” Conricus said.

Expectations have been mounting that the next phase of Israel’s campaign will be a ground offensive focused on taking Gaza City and the underground spiderweb of Hamas tunnels woven beneath.

International pressure has ramped up on Israel to avoid harming civilians throughout its retaliatory strikes. Israel says it is only outright targeting Hamas operatives and positions.

— Ruxandra Iordache

Doctors Without Borders reported the death of Mohammed Al Ahel, a laboratory technician for the organization in Gaza, on Nov. 6, during a bombing in the Shati refugee camp. Several members of his family also died in the bombing.

The international charity said Al Ahel had worked with them for more than two years and was at his home when the area was bombed and his building collapsed.

“Our repeated calls for an immediate ceasefire have gone unanswered,” the charity said in a statement Tuesday. “But we insist that a ceasefire is the only way to prevent more senseless deaths across Gaza and allow adequate humanitarian aid into the Strip.”

— Associated Press

The White House on Tuesday reiterated that President Joe Biden does not support an Israeli occupation of the Gaza Strip once the war ends.

Asked about Netanyahu’s comments, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said he would leave it to Netanyahu to clarify what he means by having “indefinite” control of Gaza’s security.

“There needs to be a healthy set of conversations about what post conflict Gaza looks like and what governance looks like,” Kirby told reporters.

“What we absolutely agree with our Israeli counterparts on is what it can’t look like, and it can’t look like it looked on October 6.”

Biden previously said it would be a “mistake” for Israel to occupy Gaza.

— Associated Press

Nariman Tamimi, mother of detained Palestinian activist Ahed Tamimi, holds a painting of her daughter as she sits in their family home in the village of Nabi Saleh in the occupied West Bank. The Israeli army said on Nov. 6 it had arrested the prominent 22-year-old Palestinian activist Ahed Tamimi during a raid in the occupied West Bank.

The White House said President Joe Biden discussed implementing temporary pauses in fighting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in order to create an opportunity for humanitarian aid to enter Gaza.

The pause in the conflict would also give people who want to leave Gaza through the Rafah border crossing an opportunity to do so.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters at the White House that the Biden administration plans to “keep the dialogue going.”

— Amanda Macias