An Israeli tank and armoured vehicle have cut a key road from the north to the south of the Gaza Strip, entering close to Gaza City, according to Palestinian witnesses. We already knew that Israeli forces said they had expanded their ground forces in Gaza over the past 24 hours. IDF chief spokesman Daniel Hagari was asked specifically about the tanks at a morning briefing and declined to give more information. Salah-al-Din road was one of two routes that Palestinians in the northern part of the Gaza Strip had been told by Israel to use to evacuate south for their safety. It was the preferred choice of many, as the alternative coastal road was seen as being within easy firing range of the Israeli navy.