Over 30 Killed After Israel Strikes Gaza Camp

www.mangaloretoday.com

New Delhi Nov 5, 2023: An Israeli strike on a refugee camp in central Gaza killed over 30 people late on Saturday as the fighting between Israel’s military and Hamas continued.

The battle between Israeli forces and Hamas entered the fifth week on Saturday with no signs of de-escalation. US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, who is currently in the Middle East for a diplomatic tour, is facing a tide of anger in meetings with Arab leaders.

Mr Blinken insisted that the United States supports "humanitarian pauses" in the clashes and bombings in Gaza to stop civilian deaths, however, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ruled out any scope for a ceasefire.

In a statement issued late on Saturday, Hamas said that the ongoing evacuation of foreigners from Gaza was being suspended until Israeli forces allowed wounded Palestinians to escape from the besieged Gaza Strip and reach Egypt through the Rafah border crossing to receive treatment.

The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry said that over 9,480 Gazans, mostly women and children, have been killed in Israeli airstrikes. Hamas said at least 12 people were killed when an Israeli strike hit a United Nations school were thousands were taking shelter. United Nations chief Antonio Guterres said he was "horrified" by an Israeli strike on a convoy of ambulances in Gaza on Friday.

Israel has described Gaza City as "the centre of the Hamas terror organisation", however between 350,000 to 400,000 civilians still remain inside the city and adjoining areas, according to US special envoy for aid assistance David Satterfield.

Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas, root and stem, as an act of vengeance for the brutal October 7 attack that killed 1,400 people, mostly civilians. Israel says it has struck 12,000 targets across the Palestinian territory since the day of the attack, in what is being described as one of the most fierce bombing campaigns in history.