Israel stages deadly raid on West Bank refugee camp, Palestinians say, and expands ground war to central Gaza

Israel’s forces raided a refugee camp within the northern occupied West Financial institution, killing no less than six Palestinians, Palestinian well being authorities mentioned early Wednesday.

Based on the Palestinian Crimson Crescent, an Israeli drone strike hit a gaggle of Palestinians within the Nur Shams refugee camp subsequent to the city of Tulkarem.

The Palestinian Well being Ministry mentioned six our bodies have been dropped at the Thabet Thabet hospital. The Palestinian Crimson Crescent accused Israeli forces of disrupting ambulances transporting the lifeless and wounded.

There was no fast remark from the Israeli navy. 

Agence France-Presse reported that, in a tv interview, Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas mentioned the warfare was “past a disaster” and accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of planning “to eliminate the Palestinians.”

Violence has surged within the West Financial institution since the Israel-Hamas war began Oct. 7. Not less than 310 Palestinians have been killed within the West Financial institution since Oct. 7, in accordance with the well being ministry, which doesn’t differentiate between civilian and combatant deaths.

Elsewhere, Israeli forces on Tuesday expanded their floor offensive into city refugee camps in central Gaza after bombarding the crowded Palestinian communities and ordering residents to evacuate. Gaza’s essential telecom supplier introduced one other “full interruption” of companies within the besieged territory.

The navy’s announcement of the brand new battle zone threatens additional destruction in a warfare that Israel says will final for “many months” because it vows to crush the ruling Hamas militant group after its Oct. 7 assault. Israeli forces have been engaged in heavy city preventing in northern Gaza and the southern metropolis of Khan Younis, driving Palestinians into ever-smaller areas searching for refuge.

Qatar’s state information company QNA reported that Qatari  Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani spoke by telephone with President Biden concerning the newest developments and joint mediation efforts for calming the scenario in Gaza and reaching a everlasting ceasefire.

And the U.S. mentioned Israel’s minister for strategic affairs, Ron Dermer, met with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and nationwide safety adviser Jake Sullivan to debate matters together with transitioning to a distinct section of the warfare to maximise give attention to high-value Hamas targets, bettering the humanitarian scenario, and planning for governance and safety in Gaza after the warfare.

Regardless of U.S. requires Israel to curb civilian casualties and worldwide stress for a cease-fire, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned the navy was deepening the preventing.

“We are saying to the Hamas terrorists: We see you and we are going to get to you,” Netanyahu mentioned.

Israel’s offensive is among the most devastating navy campaigns in latest historical past. More than 20,900 Palestinians, two-thirds girls and kids, have been killed, in accordance with the Hamas-run Well being Ministry in Gaza, whose depend does not differentiate between civilians and combatants.

The U.N. human rights workplace mentioned the continued bombardment of center Gaza had claimed greater than 100 Palestinian lives since Christmas Eve. The workplace famous that Israel had ordered some residents to maneuver there.

The Israeli navy introduced the deaths of two extra troopers Monday, bringing the overall killed because the floor offensive started to 161.

The United Nations named an outgoing Dutch finance minister as its humanitarian coordinator for Gaza, AFP studies, within the wake of last week’s watered-down Security Council resolution calling for assist to be delivered to the territory.

Sigrid Kaag’s appointment comes with Gaza going through a dire humanitarian emergency and assist severely slowed by Israel’s relentless bombing of the densely populated strip.

Earlier, Israel mentioned it could not grant computerized visas to U.N. workers and accused the world physique of being “complicit companions” in Hamas’ techniques. Authorities spokesman Eylon Levy mentioned Israel would think about visa requests case by case. That would additional restrict assist efforts in Gaza.