Israel has officially announced an expansion of its ground offensive in the central Gaza Strip, even as the United Nations issues warnings about the deepening humanitarian crisis in the war-torn Palestinian enclave. Previously, Israel advised residents to relocate from the northern region to the central and southern areas, designated as "safe zones." However, contrary to this assurance, Israeli forces extended their strikes across the entire strip, covering central and southern parts, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
On December 24-25, more than 50 strikes targeted the refugee camps of Bureij, Nuseirat, and Maghazi in central Gaza, resulting in the destruction of seven residential buildings and claiming the lives of at least 86 people. According to UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Seif Magango, an unknown number of individuals remain trapped under the debris.
This intensified Israeli bombardment exacerbates an already dire humanitarian situation, with critical infrastructure such as roads connecting the camps destroyed, impeding the delivery of crucial relief aid. Shelters and hospitals, already strained with limited resources, face severe overcrowding.
As per Palestinian health authorities, the 81-day conflict has resulted in the deaths of approximately 21,000 people, primarily comprising children, women, and the elderly. Thousands more are missing and presumed buried under the rubble. The majority of the 2.3 million population has been displaced, and widespread hunger is reported by the UN.
In response to these developments, an Israeli military spokesperson stated that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) believe "thousands" of Hamas militants are present in the central Gaza refugee camps. IDF Chief of the General Staff Herzi Halevi announced a shift in focus, concentrating attacks on central and southern Gaza, aiming to complete the dismantling of Hamas' battalions in the northern Gaza Strip.
Acknowledging the toll on soldiers' lives, with 161 Israeli troops reported killed since the ground invasion's commencement, Halevi stated that the objectives of eliminating Hamas and rescuing approximately 129 hostages held in Gaza are challenging. He anticipates the fight to persist for "many more months." Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that Israel is engaged in a prolonged, multi-front war involving Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank, Iraq, Yemen, and Iran. Gallant stressed that anyone acting against Israel is a potential target, with no immunity granted. The conflict, initiated by Hamas's surprise attack on October 7, continues to unfold across multiple fronts.
(With Agency Inputs)
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