CAIRO: Israeli tanks were seen in two Gaza City areas that are gateways to the city centre, residents said on Thursday (Sep 18), while internet and phone lines were cut off across the Gaza Strip, a sign that ground operations were likely to escalate imminently.

Israeli tanks were stationed on the edge of Gaza City on Wednesday ahead of a planned ground operation into the enclave’s largest urban area, according to eyewitnesses and satellite imagery.

Israeli conductor Ilan Volkov ended his recent BBC Proms performance with a bold and powerful statement against the “atrocious and horrific” crimes being committed by Israel.

A low-cost, high-power laser-based system aimed at destroying incoming missiles has successfully completed testing and will be ready for operational use by the military later this year, Israel's Defence Ministry said on Wednesday.

Mayor Eric Adams said Thursday he plans to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in New York next week, and slammed mayoral front-runner Zohran Mamdani’s campaign promise to arrest him.