Tel-Aviv / Cairo - Israeli troops and tanks pushed into parts of the congested northern Gaza Strip on Saturday, an area they had previously avoided in the over seven-month-long war, resulting in dozens of Palestinian casualties, according to medics and residents.

Israeli forces also advanced into Rafah, a southern city near the Egyptian border crowded with displaced people. This month's incursion aimed at crushing Hamas strongholds has caused concern in both Cairo and Washington.

Tensions within Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government are evident, as Benny Gantz, a centrist member of the war cabinet, threatened to resign if Netanyahu does not agree by June 8 to a post-war plan detailing Gaza's governance after the conflict with Hamas.

Based on intelligence from recent incursions, the Israeli military announced the recovery of the body of Ron Binyamin, one of over 250 hostages seized by Hamas during the October 7 cross-border raid that triggered the war. His remains were found along with those of three other hostages whose repatriation was announced on Friday.

Hamas has not commented on this development.

Israel has resumed military operations this month in parts of northern Gaza where it had declared major operations concluded in January, anticipating a need to prevent Hamas from regrouping. Jabalia, Gaza's largest historic refugee camp, has been a focal point. On Saturday, Israeli troops and tanks entered streets previously untouched by the ground offensive. Medics reported 15 Palestinians killed and dozens wounded in one strike.

The Gaza health ministry and Civil Emergency Service received numerous calls about potential casualties but were unable to respond due to ongoing military operations.

"Today is the most difficult in terms of the occupation bombardment; air strikes and tank shelling have been almost non-stop," said Jabalia resident Ibrahim Khaled via a chat app. "We know of dozens of people, martyrs (killed), and wounded, but no ambulance can get into the area," he told Reuters.

The Israeli military confirmed operations across Gaza, including Jabalia and Rafah, targeting what it described as terrorists and infrastructure.

"The IAF (air force) continues to operate in the Gaza Strip, and struck over 70 terror targets during the past day, including weapons storage facilities, military infrastructure sites, terrorists who posed a threat to IDF troops, and military compounds," the military said in a statement.

Strains in the Israeli Coalition
Netanyahu has faced domestic and international criticism for not outlining a clear endgame seven months into the war.

At a news conference, Gantz called for the war cabinet to draft a six-point plan within three weeks, warning that he would withdraw his centrist party from Netanyahu's emergency coalition if his expectations were not met. Gantz's proposal includes a temporary U.S.-European-Arab-Palestinian civil administration for Gaza, with Israel retaining security control.

Though Gantz is Netanyahu's most formidable rival in opinion polls, his departure from the government would not collapse it, as the remaining parties would still ensure Netanyahu a parliamentary majority. However, Gantz's challenge highlights increasing strain within Israel's coalition, dominated by far-right parties. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant recently demanded clarity on post-war plans and urged Netanyahu to reject any military reoccupation of Gaza.

Armed wings of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Fatah claimed to have attacked Israeli forces in Jabalia and Rafah with anti-tank rockets, mortar bombs, and pre-planted explosive devices, inflicting casualties. The Israeli military reported 281 soldiers killed since ground incursions began on October 20.

At least 35,386 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes since October 7, according to Gaza's health ministry, while aid agencies have warned of widespread hunger and severe shortages of fuel and medical supplies.

In Rafah, Israeli tanks advanced into some eastern suburbs, clashing with Palestinian fighters amid ongoing bombing from the air and ground.

Rafah has been a refuge for over a million displaced Gazans. UNRWA, the main U.N. aid agency for Palestinians, reported that nearly 800,000 Palestinians have fled the city since Israel's ground operation began on May 6. Israel aims to capture Rafah to destroy Hamas and ensure the country's security.

Hostage Recovery
The IDF announced the recovery of Ron Benjamin, 53, whose body was found with three other hostages identified on Friday. Benjamin was killed during Hamas' October 7 attack while participating in a group cycle ride near the Gaza border.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum described Benjamin as a family man who loved cycling and traveling. His body was recovered along with those of Shani Louk, Amit Buskila, and Itzhak Gelerenter, all of whom were killed near the site of the Nova festival massacre before being taken to Gaza.

Hamas released 105 hostages in November in exchange for a week-long ceasefire and the release of 240 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails. The fate of many unaccounted-for hostages remains uncertain, and Hamas has called for an "honorable exchange deal" for their release.

Protests in Tel Aviv
Hundreds rallied in Tel Aviv on Saturday evening, demanding a ceasefire, fresh elections, and Netanyahu's resignation. Some protesters included relatives of hostages still held in Gaza. Yotam Cohen, whose brother Nimrod is held hostage, expressed a desire to stop the bloodshed, highlighting the return of hostages in body bags and ongoing soldier casualties in Gaza.

Videos and photos from Tel Aviv showed police clashing with protesters and using water cannons to disperse crowds outside the Kirya military headquarters.

Since the October 7 attacks, Israel's offensive in Gaza has resulted in over 35,000 deaths, mostly civilians, according to Hamas-run health ministry reports. The UN reports that 2.2 million Palestinians face severe food shortages and urgent need for shelter and other assistance. The first shipment of humanitarian aid arrived via a temporary floating pier on Friday, though governments and international groups warn that maritime routes are less effective than land routes.