Israeli forces, on Tuesday, expanded their ground offensive into urban refugee camps in central Gaza after bombarding the crowded Palestinian communities and ordering residents to evacuate.
Gaza’s main telecom provider announced another “complete interruption” of services in the besieged territory.
The military’s announcement of new battle zone threatens further destruction in war that Israel says will last for “many months”.
This is as it vows to crush the ruling Hamas group after its Oct. 7 attack.
Israeli forces have engaged in heavy urban fighting in northern Gaza and the southern city of Khan Younis. They were driving Palestinians into ever-smaller areas in search of refuge.
The U.S. said Israel’s minister for strategic affairs, Ron Dermer, was meeting with Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, and national security adviser, Jake Sullivan.
They discuss topics including transitioning to a different phase of the war to maximise focus on high-value Hamas targets and improving the humanitarian situation.
They also discussed planning for governance and security in Gaza after the war.
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More deaths, destructions as Israel still bombarding Gaza
Despite U.S. calls for Israel to curb civilian casualties and international pressure for a cease-fire, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the military was deepening the fighting.
“We say to the Hamas terrorists: We see you and we will get to you,” Netanyahu said.
Israel’s offensive is one of the most devastating military campaigns in recent history.
More than 20,900 Palestinians, two-thirds women and children, have been killed, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza, whose count doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants.
The agency said 240 people were killed over the past 24 hours.
The U.N. human rights office said the continued bombardment of middle Gaza had claimed more than 100 Palestinian lives since Christmas Eve.
The office noted that Israel had ordered some residents to move there. (AP News)
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