JERUSALEM: Israel has intensified its military campaign around Gaza City, ending temporary pauses that had allowed aid deliveries, while announcing the recovery of the body of Ilan Weiss, a hostage taken by Hamas.
The Israeli military said it is determined to secure full control of the Gaza Strip, beginning with Gaza City, despite mounting international criticism over worsening hunger in the enclave. Civilians have been urged to move south as operations and strikes around Gaza City expand. Military spokesman Avichay Adraee declared that tactical pauses would not apply to the city, calling it a “dangerous combat zone.”
In late July, Israel began implementing daily 10-hour pauses and aid corridors to ease restrictions on humanitarian deliveries. However, famine has since been declared in Gaza by a global hunger monitoring group. Local health authorities reported five deaths from malnutrition and starvation in the past 24 hours, including two children, bringing the toll from starvation to 322.
Israeli strikes killed 48 people across Gaza in the latest attacks. The army also claimed to have killed Muhammad Abd al-Aziz Abu Zubaida, described as Gaza’s top ISIS operative. Gaza health officials estimate more than 63,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed since the war began.
