Israel assaults Hamas in southern Gaza as humanitarian crisis looms

As the United Nations reported that relief supplies to desperate Palestinians have mostly dried up due to the severity of combat in the Israel-Hamas war, which is currently in its third month, Israeli tanks and aeroplanes launched attacks on southern Gaza on Tuesday.

Residents of Khan Younis, the biggest city in southern Gaza that Israel troops overran last week, reported that tank shelling was now concentrated on the city centre. According to one, tanks were in operation on Tuesday morning near the street that leads to the residence of Yahya Al-Sinwar, the Gaza-based commander of Hamas.

The 193-member U.N. General Assembly was getting ready to vote on a resolution urging a ceasefire at the UN. Diplomats stated that passing was anticipated. A similar request was vetoed by the US in the 15-member Security Council.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared in Jerusalem that Israel has gotten complete support for its ground invasion of Gaza and for thwarting international efforts to end the war after engaging in a “intensive dialogue” with US President Joe Biden.

Although it has also urged its ally to take extra steps to prevent injury to civilians, Washington has supported Israel’s argument that a truce would only help Hamas.

Since October 7, Israel’s campaign to drive out Hamas from Gaza has resulted in at least 18,205 Palestinian deaths and close to 50,000 injuries, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Untold numbers of dead remain under the debris or out of paramedics’ reach.

Tawfik Abu Breika, an elderly Palestinian, claimed that his residential block in Khan Younis was struck unexpectedly by an Israeli air strike on Tuesday that had brought down several buildings and caused casualties.

Health officials in Rafah, which borders Egypt, further south, reported that an Israeli airstrike on homes overnight claimed the lives of 22, including children. Under the debris, civil emergency personnel were looking for other victims.

Residents reported that this month’s shelling of Rafah, where the Israeli army ordered residents to flee for their lives, was some of the worst in recent memory.

Israel launched the attack on Gaza in retaliation for a cross-border raid on October 7 by Hamas militants that claimed 1,200 lives and kidnapped 240 more in southern Israel. During the November truce, more than a hundred captives were released.

Since the ground invasion started in late October, 105 Israeli soldiers have lost their lives in Gaza.

(With agency inputs)