Smoke seen rising on the Gaza skyline

(13 May 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Southern Israel (looking into Gaza) - 13 May 2024
1. Various of smoke rising over Gaza skyline
STORYLINE:
Smoke was seen rising over Gaza's skyline early on Monday.
Meanwhile, the exodus of Palestinians from Gaza’s last refuge accelerated on Sunday as Israel's military pushed deeper into the southern city of Rafah.
Israel also pounded the territory’s devastated north, where some Hamas militants have regrouped in areas the military said it had cleared months ago.
Rafah is considered Hamas' last stronghold.
The city had been sheltering 1.3 million Palestinians, most of whom had fled fighting elsewhere.
But Israel has now evacuated the eastern third of the city.
Some 300,000 have fled Rafah following evacuation orders from Israel.
Israel says it must carry out an offensive in the city to dismantle Hamas and return scores of hostages taken from Israel in the October 7 attack that sparked the war.
The U.N. has warned that a planned offensive would further cripple humanitarian operations and cause a surge in civilian deaths.
The main aid entry points near Rafah are already affected. Israeli troops have captured the Gaza side of the Rafah crossing, forcing it to shut down.
The October 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.
Israel’s 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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