The Israeli military has targeted residential buildings, public facilities and infrastructure across the Gaza Strip, killing at least nine members of a family in the Nuseirat refugee camp.
According to international media reports, on Thursday that Israeli ground forces were conducting a military operation seeking to expand the Netzarim Corridor – a 6.5km (4-mile) stretch established in the centre of the enclave by the Israeli military that divides northern and southern Gaza.
In northern Gaza, Israeli jets carried out air raids, targeting the remaining residential buildings in the town of Beit Lahiya, killing at least four people.
In the south, at least four people were killed on Thursday morning when Israeli drones attacked a group of Palestinian civilians near a camp for displaced people in the town of Abasan, east of the city of Khan Younis, according to the Wafa news agency.
The United Nations said earlier this month that more than 70 percent of those confirmed killed in Gaza are women and children.
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) said on social media platform X that Israeli authorities denied 82 of 91 attempts by the UN to deliver aid to northern Gaza between early October and November 25.
Israel also impeded nine other attempts to bring humanitarian supplies to the north of the territory, which has been under an Israeli military siege and constant bombardment for more than 50 days.
“The conditions for survival are diminishing for the 65,000-75,000 people estimated to remain there,” UNRWA said on Thursday.
Israel’s war in Gaza has killed at least 44,282 Palestinians and wounded 104,880 others since October 7, 2023.
There has been no progress in reaching a ceasefire in Gaza, but the United States – Israel’s main political and military ally – has said it will make renewed efforts to achieve one.
“Over the coming days, the United States will make another push with Turkey, Egypt, Qatar, Israel and others to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza with the hostages released and the end to the war without Hamas in power,” US President Joe Biden said on Wednesday.
A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, in a parallel conflict, took effect on Wednesday and was holding on Thursday.