Israel launches expanded Gaza offensive aimed at defeating Hamas

PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES: Israel’s military launched intensified Gaza operations on Saturday aimed at “the defeat of Hamas”, with rescuers in the besieged Palestinian territory reporting at least 10 killed by new Israeli strikes.

The stepped-up campaign came amid increasing international concern about the humanitarian situation in Gaza which continues to worsen amid an Israeli aid blockade.

One of the territory’s last functioning hospitals warned it could no longer treat seriously wounded patients because of shortages and damage from a nearby attack.

It also came as Hamas said a new round of indirect negotiations with Israel “without any preconditions” aimed at ending the war had started in Doha.

Israel’s military called the new operation part of “the expansion of the battle in the Gaza Strip, with the goal of achieving all the war’s objectives, including the release of the abducted and the defeat of Hamas”.

It said it had “launched extensive strikes and transferred forces to seize control of areas within the Gaza Strip”.

Addressing an Arab League summit in Baghdad, United Nations chief Antonio Guterres said he was “alarmed” at the expansion, adding: “We need a permanent ceasefire, now.”

The summit’s final statement urged the international community “to exert pressure to end the bloodshed and ensure that urgent humanitarian aid can enter without obstacles”.

Italy urged Israel to stop its military strikes, with Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani saying: “Enough with the attacks.” The German government said it was “deeply concerned” about the Israeli offensive.

Gaza civil defence agency spokesman Mahmud Bassal said 10 bodies were brought to hospitals on Saturday morning a day after Israeli strikes killed at least 100 people.

In the central city of Deir el-Balah, displaced Gazans sifted through belongings, some bloodstained, for whatever could be salvaged after overnight strikes hit their tents.

“We woke up at half past two in the morning to the sound of a loud explosion that shook the entire area,” said Umm Fadi Quzaat. “There was blood and body parts everywhere.”