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Israeli forces step up offensive in southern Gaza NHK

Israeli forces are stepping up their offensive in the southern Gaza Strip, including Rafah, a city hosting a large number of Palestinian evacuees.

The Israeli military has intensified attacks on the southern city of Khan Younis. Local Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar is suspected to be hiding there. The military also announced on Friday it had destroyed Hamas military targets in Rafah.

Qatar-based TV station Al Jazeera reported on Friday that one of its camera persons in Khan Younis had been killed in an Israeli attack. One of its correspondents was also wounded.

Israeli media outlet The Times of Israel reported that it confirmed on Thursday that Israeli forces had begun the process of flooding Hamas's underground tunnels.

The report noted this was "albeit in a limited trial capacity" but that "it was understood to have been a success."

Meanwhile, Hamas declared on social media on Friday that its fighters had blasted a building where they spotted Israeli military personnel in Khan Younis. Hamas also fired rockets from Gaza toward Jerusalem on Friday. They caused no injuries as Israeli forces intercepted them.

Health officials in Gaza says 18,787 people there have died in the ongoing conflict.

The Israeli government announced on Friday it will temporarily allow humanitarian supplies into Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing at the border with Israel.

It said, "Israel committed to transfer 200 truckloads per day of food and humanitarian aid from Egypt for the civilian population in Gaza."

Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Daniel Hagari said on Friday its troops mistakenly shot and killed three Israeli hostages in eastern Gaza earlier in the day. He said the troops mistakenly identified the three as a threat in a battle zone in Shejaiya.

Hagari said their identities were confirmed after their bodies were transferred to Israel for examination. They are among the hostages abducted from Israeli communities near Gaza.

The spokesperson said the Israel Defense Forces bears responsibility for everything that happened.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the deaths an unbearable tragedy on X, formerly Twitter. He vowed his continued commitment to rescuing all the hostages.
Summary
Israeli forces escalate offensive in Gaza Strip, particularly Rafah and Khan Younis. Suspected Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar is believed to be hiding in Khan Younis. Al Jazeera reports death of one camera person, injury to a correspondent in an Israeli attack. Israel floods Hamas tunnels, reportedly
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ID: dbcb5fcd-12e0-44d2-9c89-6032a7f8b383

Category ID: nhk

URL: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231216_11/

Date: Dec. 16, 2023

Created: 2023/12/16 19:00

Updated: 2025/12/08 20:09

Last Read: 2023/12/17 07:17