Israel on Saturday bombed targets in the southern half of the Gaza Strip, which is overpopulated, and ordered the evacuation of more neighborhoods targeted for the attack, raising the death toll.
At least 200 Palestinians have been killed since fighting resumed on Friday morning after a week-long ceasefire with Hamas, the Islamist militant group in power in the area, with several hit today, according to Gaza’s health ministry. with several victims recorded.
The ministry also announced that the total number of deaths in Gaza since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas has surpassed 15,200 on October 7, a huge increase from the previous count of 13,300 on November 20, after no daily updates were published about. total casualties as of November 11, due to war-related disruptions to calls and hospital operations.
Gaza authorities do not distinguish between civilians and fighters but said 70% of the dead were women and children and more than 40,000 people were injured in the past two months.
With the end of the temporary ceasefire, Israel was urged by the United States, its closest ally, to do more to protect Palestinian civilians.
The Israeli army said it had hit more than 400 Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip in the past day, using airstrikes and shelling from tanks and warships. The attacks include more than 50 in the town of Khan Younis and surrounding areas, in the southern half of Gaza.
At least nine people, including three children, were killed in an attack on a house in the southern city of Deir al-Balah, the hospital where the bodies were taken said. The hospital also received seven bodies of other people killed in airstrikes that night, including two children.
Meanwhile, Palestinian militant groups in Gaza claimed to have fired rockets into southern Israel. Sirens were heard in communities near the Gaza Strip, but there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.
In a clear sign that a return to negotiations on new ceasefires was unlikely, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered negotiators to return to Israel.
When fighting resumed, the Israeli military published an online map dividing the Gaza Strip into hundreds of numbered plots and asked residents to familiarize themselves with their location numbers before sounding evacuation warnings.
The maps and leaflets caused panic and confusion, especially in the south where there are many people. Since they cannot go to northern Gaza or neighboring Egypt, their only option is to move within the 220 square kilometer area.
“We have nowhere to go,” said Emad Hajar, who fled the north to Khan Younis a month ago with his wife and three children, continuing: “They drove us out of the north and now they are forcing us to leave the south. “
Amal Radwan, who sought shelter in the Jabaliya urban refugee camp in northern Gaza, said she was not aware of such a map, adding that she and many others were unable to leave because of the incessant shelling. “Here is death and there is death,” he said.
Israel says it is targeting Hamas operatives and blames civilian deaths on the militants, accusing them of operating in residential areas. He claims to have killed thousands of militants, without providing evidence.
Source: DN
