Israeli forces continue their aerial and ground assault in the southern Gaza Strip, resulting in numerous casualties among Palestinians, despite repeated calls from the United States and the United Nations urging them to prioritize civilian protection.
Reports from residents and journalists on the ground indicated that intense Israeli airstrikes targeted areas where Israel had previously advised people to seek shelter.
At the United Nations, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres implored Israel to refrain from actions exacerbating the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza and to spare civilians from further suffering. The resumption of hostilities has left evacuees with nowhere safe to go, exacerbating the already challenging circumstances.
Israel, having captured the northern half of Gaza in November, has swiftly advanced into the southern half since the collapse of the week-long truce on Friday. The armed wing of Hamas ally Islamic Jihad reported engaging in fierce clashes with Israeli soldiers north and east of Khan Younis, the main southern city in Gaza.
Israeli tanks crossed into Gaza, cutting off the main north-south route, according to residents. The central road from Khan Younis to the north is now deemed a battlefield and has been closed, according to the Israeli military.
Israel confirmed on Tuesday that three soldiers died in combat in Gaza on Monday, describing it as a day of intense battles with Hamas fighters. Since the start of the ground invasion, 78 soldiers have lost their lives in Gaza.
Israel initiated its assault in response to an October 7 cross-border attack by Hamas gunmen, resulting in 1,200 casualties and the seizure of 240 hostages, according to Israeli sources. Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees in Gaza (UNRWA), expressed concern that the military operation was repeating past horrors, displacing those already affected and straining the humanitarian operation.
The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, reiterated calls for Israel to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, including hospitals. WHO received notice to evacuate its medical warehouse in southern Gaza due to ground operations rendering it unusable.
(Inputs from Reuters)
