Israel presses incursion in Gaza

Violence cannot bring lasting peace, Beijing says, as Netanyahu rejects calls for cease-fire

JERUSALEM/GAZA — Israeli troops pushed deeper into Gaza on Tuesday, driving tanks and armored bulldozers through the rubble of shattered buildings and hunting for Hamas militants, after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu categorically ruled out a cease-fire.

Israel said its forces attacked Hamas gunmen inside the vast tunnel network beneath Gaza.

The tunnels are a key objective for Israel as it expands ground operations inside Gaza to wipe out the Hamas movement. Hamas has so far released four out of the 239 hostages Israel says were captured on Oct 7.Many of the hostages are believed to held in the tunnel network.