Plumes of smoke rise from Gaza Strip as Israeli forces battle militants across Palestinian territory

(12 May 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Southern Israel, looking at Gaza Strip - 12 May 2024
1. Wide of smoke rising on the skyline, UPSOUND explosions
2. Wide of skyline
3. Wide of second plume of smoke rising into sky, UPSOUND explosions
STORYLINE:
Smoke was seen rising into the sky over the Gaza Strip on Sunday as the Israel-Hamas war continued.
Israeli forces pushed deeper into Gaza's southern city of Rafah on Sunday and battled Hamas in parts of the devastated north that the military said it had cleared months ago but where militants have regrouped.
Warnings continued against the growing offensive in Rafah, considered the last refuge in Gaza for more than a million civilians as well as Hamas' last stronghold.
Some 300,000 people have fled Rafah following evacuation orders from Israel, which says it must invade to dismantle Hamas and return scores of hostages taken in the Oct. 7 attack against Israel that sparked the war.
The expanding Rafah operation has drawn warnings from neighboring Egypt, whose foreign ministry said it intends to formally join South Africa's case at the International Court of Justice alleging Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, which Israel rejects.
The Oct. 7 attack killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took another 250 hostage.
Militants still hold about 100 captives and the remains of more than 30.
Internationally mediated talks over a cease-fire and hostage release appear to be at a standstill.
Israel’s air, land and sea offensive has killed more than 35,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which doesn’t distinguish between civilians and combatants in its figures.
Israel says it has killed over 13,000 militants, without providing evidence.
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