GAZA CITY: Israel continued its military offensive in Gaza despite increasing international pressure for restraint, with the United States cautioning against a prolonged Israeli occupation. The offensive, which started on October 7, has left large parts of the besieged Gaza Strip in ruins.
The Gaza health ministry reports over 18,700 Palestinians have been killed, mostly women and children, as a result of Israeli bombardments. On Friday, a school in Khan Younis, housing displaced Palestinian people, was struck, leading to at least three casualties, including a child.
In Rafah near the Egyptian border, Palestinians are using flashlights to search for survivors under the rubble following Israeli strikes. The Israeli army confirmed 117 troops killed in Gaza since the offensive began.
US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan expressed concern over civilian casualties and emphasized the need to avoid a long-term Israeli occupation of Gaza. President Joe Biden urged Israel to focus on protecting civilians.
Israel Vows To Continue Gaza Bombardments
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to continue the offensive “until victory,” while Foreign Minister Eli Cohen asserted that the war would continue “with or without international support.”
Sullivan, after meeting with Israeli leaders, headed to the Israeli-occupied West Bank for talks with the Palestinian Authority. The West Bank has witnessed increased Israeli settlers and army violence against innocent Palestinian civilians since the Gaza offensive began.
The UN General Assembly passed a resolution for a Gaza ceasefire, with the US voting against it. The UN estimates that 1.9 million out of Gaza’s 2.4 million people have been displaced, warning of a potential breakdown of civil order.
Fears of a broader regional conflict persist, with Yemen’s Houthi rebels attacking a cargo ship in the Red Sea, causing a fire. The Houthis claim to target shipping to pressure Israel during its conflict with Hamas.
