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ISRAEL has raided several homes of Hamas leaders as they stepped up their ground offensive in Gaza.

The IDF said troops stormed the strip's upscale Rimal neighbourhood with airstrikes and destroyed a Hamas military camp in the area.

Israeli troops raided the homes of senior Hamas officials in southern Gaza
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Israeli troops raided the homes of senior Hamas officials in southern Gaza
The IDF released footage showing tanks battling through the streets of the Rimal neighbourhood in Gaza
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The IDF released footage showing tanks battling through the streets of the Rimal neighbourhood in Gaza
Footage showed soldiers opening fire on terrorists with RPGs
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Footage showed soldiers opening fire on terrorists with RPGs

It came as some 31 babies were evacuated from al-Shifa hospital amid fears of a growing humanitarian crisis in the Strip.

Meanwhile, Israeli chief Lt. Col. Herzi Halevi reportedly approved plans to head into the southern part of the strip with full force.

One of the dramatic videos released by the IDF shows Israeli troops raiding the homes of senior Hamas officials and engaging in hot gun fights.

Tanks were seen rolling through the ruined streets as Israel blasted unseen enemies in another clip.

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The IDF said paratroopers found "35 tunnel entrances" in a statement as they continued to hunt down Hamas terrorists.

It said it raided a military camp "used by the technical department of the military intelligence of Hamas" during which it "located ammunition depots and seven rocket launchers".

Israel continues to strike Gaza hard as it seeks to destroy Hamas and rescue captured hostages.

But the humanitarian situation in the narrow strip is continuing to worsen.

The World Health Organisation reported at least 31 babies have been evacuated from al-Shifa - Gaza's biggest hospital.

The babies were taken to the Al-Helal Emirati maternity hospital and are receiving urgent care in the neonatal intensive care unit, according to the UN.

According to Sky News, the rescued babies will be "transported to Egypt" tomorrow.

It comes after hundreds of civilians and health workers fled Al-Shifa on foot yesterday after Israeli troops issued the order to evacuate the place.

Al-Shifa hospital has become the new focus of the Israel-Hamas war as Israel claims it is a façade for a Hamas stronghold - something the Hamas have repeatedly denied.

Israeli troops claimed on Wednesday they had found weapons in the hospital - evidence, they say, to support their claims.

It comes as Palestinian civilians have been left fleeing for their lives as Israel attempts to destroy Hamas after the terror group massacred 1,200 civilians on October 7.

The brutal crossfire between the Israeli forces and Hamas terrorists has caught civilians in the middle, with regular accusations that the terrorists are attempting to use them as “human shields”.

Much of the northern part of Gaza has been turned into a devastated warzone.

Ruined buildings, dwindling supplies and the horrific suffering of Gazans paint the strip's picture.

According to The Red Cross, some 1.5 million civilians have been forced to flee south amid the Israeli onslaught from land, air and sea.

Hamas’ health officials claim more than 11,000 civilians, including more than 4,500 children have been killed, but the figures remain unverified.

Benjamin Netanyahu admitted Israel has "not been successful" in reducing civilian casualties.

He said the deaths, however, must be blamed on Hamas - not Israel.

READ MORE SUN STORIES

And as the horror continues there have been growing calls for a humanitarian ceasefire to stop the bloodshed.

31 premature babies have been evacuated from Al-Shifa Hospital today
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31 premature babies have been evacuated from Al-Shifa Hospital todayCredit: AFP
The babies were taken to the Al-Helal Emirati maternity hospital
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The babies were taken to the Al-Helal Emirati maternity hospitalCredit: Getty

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