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© Reuters. Israeli troopers function within the Gaza Strip amid the continued battle between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, on this handout image launched on January 28, 2024. Israel Protection Forces/Handout by way of REUTERS
By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Ibraheem Abu Mustafa
DOHA/GAZA (Reuters) -Medical services are prone to collapse in Khan Younis, the southern Gaza metropolis now on the focus of Israel’s offensive, the Gaza Well being Ministry warned on Sunday, as combating raged throughout the Palestinian enclave.
Residents mentioned Israeli planes and tanks additionally pounded areas in Gaza Metropolis to the north, the place Israel has been pulling out troops. The combating might be heard within the close by cities of Beit Lahiya and Jabalia, close to to Gaza Metropolis.
Israel’s navy mentioned it was engaged in “intensive battles” in Khan Younis, the place it mentioned troops “eradicated terrorists and positioned giant portions of weapons”.
The armed wing of Hamas and the Islamic Jihad mentioned fighters clashed with Israeli troops in a number of areas throughout the enclave in a single day. Hamas’ armed wing mentioned its fighters destroyed two Israeli tanks in Khan Younis.
The most recent combating got here as U.N. officers and assist teams urged nations to rethink their determination to pause funding for the U.N. refugee company for Palestinians, an important supply of assist in Gaza. Not less than 9 nations have paused funding following allegations by Israel {that a} dozen of UNRWA’s employees had been concerned within the Oct. 7 Hamas assaults on Israel.
Gaza Well being Ministry spokesperson Ashraf Al-Qidra mentioned 165 Palestinians had been killed and 290 wounded previously 24 hours, bringing the overall killed in Israeli strikes because the battle started to 26,422. Officers within the Hamas-ruled territory don’t distinguish between militants and civilians of their rely.
Israel says it has misplaced 220 troopers within the floor offensive and has killed 9,000 Gaza fighters, a determine that Hamas has dismissed.
One strike on a home in a suburb of Gaza Metropolis killed eight individuals, well being officers mentioned.
Israel launched a battle it says goals to eradicate Hamas after the militants’ unprecedented cross-border assault, through which 1,200 individuals had been killed and 253 kidnapped, in accordance with Israeli officers.
The Israeli navy declared a closed navy zone on the Kerem Shalom crossing into Gaza after right-wing demonstrators and a few households of hostages tried to cease assist from going into the enclave, saying it was merely serving to Hamas.
Protests in Israel demanding that the federal government do extra to safe the hostages’ launch have been spreading, as little progress has been seen in ceasefire talks mediated by Egypt and Qatar since November amid disputes between Israel and Hamas.
HEALTHCARE SYSTEM FAILURE
Palestinian medics and residents mentioned Israel continued to bomb areas across the two predominant hospitals in Khan Younis, hindering efforts by rescue groups to answer determined calls from individuals caught within the Israeli bombardment.
“There’s a full failure of the healthcare system at Nasser and Al-Amal hospitals,” mentioned Qidra.
Israel says it’s taking steps to maintain hospitals operating and minimise civilian casualties. It accuses Hamas of working in densely populated areas, together with round hospitals, and utilizing civilians as human shields and has launched pictures and movies supporting this allegation, which the Islamist group denies.
The Palestinian Pink Crescent Society mentioned in an announcement that medical groups at Al-Amal Hospital in Khan Younis could be unable to carry out surgical procedures as a result of oxygen provides had been depleted.
Extra households had been displaced from Khan Younis on Sunday. Some individuals took dust roads to get nearer to the town of Rafah alongside the border with Egypt or Deir Al-Balah to the north. Others headed west to an space known as Al-Mawasi the place residents described being crammed right into a small space.
“It’s as crowded as it may well get,” mentioned electrician Abu Raouf, a father of 4. “Folks have misplaced their capability to suppose, their capability to really feel, they’re shifting like robots, it’s only a matter of time earlier than Israel sends tanks into right here as nicely, there is no such thing as a place secure.”
Reem Abu Tair left Khan Younis within the chilly with three youngsters, one in every of them an toddler.
“We managed to save lots of our lives, we escaped bombings and the destruction that’s surrounding us solely to finish up within the chilly. So, if a toddler doesn’t die from the bombing, he’ll die from the chilly,” Abu Tair mentioned.
(Reporting and writing by Nidal al-Mughrabi in DohaAdditional reporting by Ibraheem Abu Mustafa in Gaza and Ari Rabinovitch and Lee Marzel in JerusalemEditing by Frances Kerry, William Maclean)
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