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©(Photo by John MACDOUGALL / AFP)
Israel pressed on with its expanded ground operation against Hamas in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday following the end of a seven-day truce last week. The Israeli army said its ground forces were engaged in fighting in Gaza's second-biggest city, Khan Yunis, in the south of the territory.
The Israeli military confirmed that its ground forces were actively involved in combat in Khan Yunis, the second-largest city in Gaza, located in the southern part of the territory.
Israeli tanks, armored personnel carriers and bulldozers had earlier been seen near Khan Yunis, forcing already displaced civilians to pack up and flee again, witnesses told journalists.
The health ministry in Gaza said 25 people were killed in a strike that hit a school in the city where people were sheltering.
The military said 82 soldiers had been killed since the start of its offensive against Hamas in Gaza.
The United Nations said it was impossible to create safe zones for civilians in Gaza.
"The so-called safe zones ... are not scientific, they are not rational, they are not possible," said James Elder, spokesman for the UN children's agency, UNICEF.
His comments came after Israel's army published a map it said was intended to enable Gazans to "evacuate from specific places for their safety if required."
That followed international demands to create safe areas where civilians could shelter from devastating bombardments.
Qatar's emir hit out at international inaction over the Israel-Hamas war.
"It is shameful for the international community to allow this heinous crime to continue for nearly two months, during which the systematic and deliberate killing of innocent civilians continued, including women and children," Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani said.
Israeli forces on Tuesday killed a Palestinian man in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian health ministry said, with an advocacy group reporting dozens of arrests in army raids over 48 hours.
Mohammed Youssef Manasra, 25, was killed when Israeli troops raided the Qalandia refugee camp near annexed east Jerusalem, the health ministry told the media.
Khalil Wakim, with AFP
The Israeli military confirmed that its ground forces were actively involved in combat in Khan Yunis, the second-largest city in Gaza, located in the southern part of the territory.
Israeli tanks, armored personnel carriers and bulldozers had earlier been seen near Khan Yunis, forcing already displaced civilians to pack up and flee again, witnesses told journalists.
The health ministry in Gaza said 25 people were killed in a strike that hit a school in the city where people were sheltering.
The military said 82 soldiers had been killed since the start of its offensive against Hamas in Gaza.
Safe Zones 'Not Possible'
The United Nations said it was impossible to create safe zones for civilians in Gaza.
"The so-called safe zones ... are not scientific, they are not rational, they are not possible," said James Elder, spokesman for the UN children's agency, UNICEF.
His comments came after Israel's army published a map it said was intended to enable Gazans to "evacuate from specific places for their safety if required."
That followed international demands to create safe areas where civilians could shelter from devastating bombardments.
Qatar Slams Inaction
Qatar's emir hit out at international inaction over the Israel-Hamas war.
"It is shameful for the international community to allow this heinous crime to continue for nearly two months, during which the systematic and deliberate killing of innocent civilians continued, including women and children," Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani said.
Assaults in West Bank
Israeli forces on Tuesday killed a Palestinian man in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian health ministry said, with an advocacy group reporting dozens of arrests in army raids over 48 hours.
Mohammed Youssef Manasra, 25, was killed when Israeli troops raided the Qalandia refugee camp near annexed east Jerusalem, the health ministry told the media.
Khalil Wakim, with AFP
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