The Israeli military initiated mass evacuations from the southern town of Khan Younis, where tens of thousands of Palestinians were staying, as it expanded its ground attack and bombarded targets across the Gaza Strip.
The latest attack, after the collapse of the cease-fire, is aimed at eliminating Gaza’s Hamas rulers, whose October 7 attack into Israel triggered the deadliest Israeli-Palestinian violence in decades. The war has already killed thousands people and displaced over three-fourths of the population.
Israel is putting in all efforts to remove the terror organisation Hamas— which is going to be tasking given the group’s deep roots in Palestinian society — before another cease-fire. But the mounting toll of the fighting, which Palestinian health officials say has killed several hundred civilians since the truce ended on Friday, further increases pressure to return to the negotiating table.
It could also render even larger parts of the isolated territory uninhabitable.
The ground offensive has transformed much of the north, including large parts of Gaza City, into a rubble-filled wasteland. Hundreds of thousands of people have sought refuge in the south, which could meet the same fate, and both Israel and neighboring Egypt have refused to accept any refugees.
Following the attack, some refugees have shelter in the south, although the region could be the next target for the IDF. Both Israel and Egypt have refused to accept in any refugees.
In the meantime, the U.S.urged Israel to avoid more mass displacement and the killing of civilians, a message underscored by Vice President Kamala Harris during a visit to the region. She also said the U.S. would not allow the forced relocation of Palestinians out of Gaza or the occupied West Bank, or the redrawing of Gaza’s borders.
The U.S. has pledged unwavering support to Israel since the Oct. 7 attack, which killed over 1,200 people, mostly civilians, including rushing munitions and other aid to Israel.
Israel has rejected U.S. suggestions that control over postwar Gaza be handed over to the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority ahead of renewed efforts to resolve the conflict by establishing a Palestinian state.
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