Israel has launched air raids and a ground operation in Gaza, targeting Deir al-Balah. The new offensive is said to be “substantial.”  Deir al-Balah is the main hub for humanitarian efforts in the devastated Palestinian territory, amid urgent warnings of widening starvation in the coastal strip.

This assault comes a day after the Israeli military inflicted the highest death toll in 21 months on  Palestinians seeking food aid. At least 85 desperate Palestinians were killed on Sunday in what has become an almost daily slaughter.

United Nations infrastructure has been hit, along with mosques, as houses, according to local medics and as reported by The Guardian. 

“UN staff remain in Deir al-Balah, and two UN guesthouses have been struck, despite parties having been informed of the locations of UN premises, which are inviolable. These locations – as with all civilian sites – must be protected, regardless of evacuation orders,” UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said.

The World Health Organization (WHO) also reported that its buildings were targeted in the assault. The WHO claims that its staff residence and main warehouse in Deir al-Balah were also attacked.

In its daily update, Gaza’s health ministry said at least 130 Palestinians had been killed and more than 1,000 wounded by Israeli gunfire and military strikes across the territory in the past 24 hours, one of the highest such totals in recent weeks.

Early on Tuesday, health authorities said at least 12 Palestinians were killed and dozens injured when Israeli tanks fired on tents housing displaced people at al-Shati camp in western Gaza City. There was no immediate comment from Israel.

On Monday, the UK and 27 other countries signed a sharply critical letter condemning the Israeli military’s killing of hundreds of Palestinians seeking food in recent weeks and calling for an immediate end to the conflict. -The Guardian

This attack came after Hebrew media outlets reported that Hamas was close to a ceasefire agreement.

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