by Nidal al-Mughrabi and Dan Williams
CAIRO/JERUSALEM, May 20 (Reuters) – Israel launched a new push into the central Gaza Strip on Monday, bombing towns in the north of the Palestinian enclave and saying it wanted to further expand its offensive in Rafah despite warnings from the American administration on the risk of numerous deaths in the southern city.
Medical sources in Gaza said at least 23 people were killed in the latest fighting, while residents reported intense clashes in Jabalia and the northern Gaza Strip.
Israeli tanks also undertook limited incursions into the neighborhoods of Wadi Al-Salqa and Al-Karara, near Dei Al-Balah, a town in the center of the enclave, according to residents.
The fighting raged despite the presence of Jake Sullivan, the White House national security adviser, who called on Israeli forces to undertake a targeted operation rather than a full-scale offensive in Rafah.
But Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant indicated there would be no let-up in his army’s operation, which aims to eliminate Hamas fighters from Rafah and rescue the remaining hostages. in the hands of the Islamist group.
“We are committed to expanding the ground operation in Rafah until Hamas is dismantled and the hostages are returned,” he told Jake Sullivan during their meeting, according to a statement released by the Israeli Ministry of Defense’s office. defense.
Israel considers Rafah to be the last bastion of Hamas forces. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fled the area, which was one of their last places of refuge.
Israel ordered Palestinian civilians to evacuate some neighborhoods and began advancing its tanks and soldiers into the city. According to UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, nearly 810,000 people have fled Rafah, almost half of the pre-war population.
The Israeli offensive aroused opposition from its American ally, which suspended deliveries of certain weapons for fear of massive human losses.
BATTLE AT JABALIA
At least 35,000 Palestinians have been killed in the enclave since the start of the war, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. NGOs have warned of imminent risks of famine and shortages of fuel and medical equipment.
The Hamas assault on Israel on October 7, which sparked the war, left 1,200 dead, according to Israeli counts. Around 125 of the 253 people kidnapped in the raid are believed to remain in captivity in Gaza.
Fighting has been intense in the town of Jabalia – which is home to the largest of Gaza’s eight historic refugee camps – for around ten days.
The fighting is taking place in the heart of the camp and in narrow alleys where Israeli soldiers have never entered before, residents said.
Hamas’ military wing and its ally, Islamic Jihad, announced that their fighters launched anti-tank rockets and mortar bombs against Israeli forces operating in the Palestinian enclave.
Hamas’ military wing said ground clashes were taking place around Rafah. Videos circulating on social networks, which Reuters was unable to authenticate, show tanks in front of certain buildings, suggesting a new territorial gain by the Israeli army.
(French version Zhifan Liu)
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