Israel’s defence minister has said troops will remain in the so-called security zones they have established by seizing large areas of Gaza even after an end to the war.
Israel Katz said the zones would provide a “buffer” to protect Israeli communities “in any temporary or permanent situation”, and that “tens of per cent” of the Palestinian territory had been added since the Israeli offensive resumed three weeks ago.
He said Israel would continue its six-week blockade of humanitarian aid to pressure Hamas to release hostages, despite the UN warning of “devastating” consequences.
Meanwhile, hospital officials said at least 24 Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes across Gaza on Wednesday.
The majority of those reported killed were in Gaza City, in the north.
They included 10 members of the Hassouna family, mostly children and women. One of them was Fatema Hassouna – a young writer and photographer.
The BBC has asked the Israeli military for comment on the strike.
The Hamas-run Civil Defence agency also said two people were killed in an Israeli strike on tents for displaced families in the Yarmouk Stadium, to the north-west, on Tuesday night.
Another two people were killed after a strike at a camp near southern city of Khan Younis, it added. Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry has said more than 1,650 people have been killed since the war resumed on 18 March.
Credit: bbc.com
