IDF concentrates its fighting with Hamas in southern Gaza, after night bombings against Hezbollah

Israeli troops and Hamas militiamen They continued this Friday their intense fighting in the main cities of Loopespecially in the south, where it has expanded the israeli ground operation after more than two months of war.

after one first phase of focused offensive in the north of Loophe israeli army expanded its operations to the south, where almost two million displaced civilians take refuge, trapped in an increasingly slim territory.

Israeli soldiers fought against Islamist militiamen in Khan Younisthe most important city in the south of the Stripebut also in the north, in the Gaza city and in the neighboring sector of Jabaliya.

The balance of the israeli offensive On Thursday there were 17,177 deaths, 70% of them women and children under 18 years of age, according to the Hamas Ministry of Health that controls this territory.

In a call with israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahuhe United States’s president, Joe Biden“insisted on the absolute necessity of protect civilians and differentiate the civilian population from Hamas“, said the White House.

The North American country has firmly supported Israel after the bloody attack of October 7 of Hamasbut he becomes increasingly concerned about the balance of civilian casualties in Loop.

Israel promised to annihilate islamist movementconsidered a terrorist by USA and the European Unionafter the assault which left 1,200 dead and 240 hostages, according to Israeli authorities.

On Thursday night, Israeli television broadcast videos of dozens of Palestinians in underwear and with blindfolded guarded by soldiers in the Gaza Stripsome images that provoked controversy on social networks.

He israeli army said “investigate” to “verify who is linked to Hamas and who doesn’t.”

Traumatized by the attack on October 7 and in the middle of the war hostilities, Israel began celebrating the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah.

In Tel Avivfamilies and friends of the hostages taken by Hamas They lit candles on a giant candelabra with 138 arms in memory of the number of people still captive in Loop after the release of 80 of them during a truce in November.

The expansion of the israeli ground operation has caused an exodus of thousands of people from Khan Younis toward Rafahin the south, touching the egyptian borderthe only place where humanitarian aid still arrives, although in limited quantity.

“For two months, we have been moving from one place to another (…) We are very tired, we sleep on the street,” he says. Abdullah Abou Daqqawhich has arrived at this border town after “the hardest two months” of his life.

In addition to the bombings and ground operation, Israel has imposed since October 9 a total siege in the Gaza Stripwhich causes serious shortages of water, food, medicine and electricity.

He director general of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesussaid that the health system is “on its knees” in Loopwith the majority of hospitals in the north inoperative and those in the south overwhelmed with thousands of injured to care for.

The fuelnecessary for the operation of hospital generators and of the water desalination equipmentis also scarce.

He israeli government authorized this week the delivery of a “minimum supplement” of fuel to avoid a “humanitarian collapse” and epidemics in the Gaza Striptwo days after Washington will launch a call in this regard.

According to the ONU1.9 million people (80% of the population of Loop) were displaced by the warwhich has destroyed or damaged more than half of the houses in the territory.

The conflict revived tensions on the border between Israel and Lebanonwhere they are produced everyday shots between the israeli army and the lebanese group hezbollahally of Hamas.

The army and Israeli emergency services announced on Thursday the death of a civilian in the north due to firing of an anti-tank missile claimed by hezbollah.

At night, the armed forces They reported two minor injuries from another anti tank missile and announced air bombings against the hezbollah bases.

Netanyahu issued a new notice to Lebanese Shiite movement: “I suggest our enemies pay attention, because if hezbollah choose to trigger the total warwill convert Beirut and the south of Lebanon in Loop and Khan Younis.

(AFP)