Israeli troops fought militants across Gaza on Wednesday, including in the southern city of Rafah that had been a refuge for civilians, in an upsurge of the more than seven-month war that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians.
Antagonism between Israel and the United Nations worsened as the Israeli army sought an explanation for footage showing armed men next to U.N. Palestinian relief agency vehicles. Separately, the U.N. said it was investigating an unidentified strike that killed an international staff member in Gaza earlier this week.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s army has in recent days pressed into the east of Rafah in pursuit of what it says are four Hamas battalions, despite warnings from its ally the U.S. and others to hold off to avoid mass civilian casualties.
Since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, Israel has killed 35,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials, with 82 dead on Tuesday in the highest single-day toll for weeks.
Hamas-led gunmen killed some 1,200 people in their initial raid, according to Israeli tallies, and still hold 128 hostages out of 252 people they captured in their cross-border raid.
In the northern Jabalia refugee camp, residents said Israeli tanks had destroyed clusters of homes but were facing heavy resistance. “They are bombing houses on top of their inhabitants. We know of many families being trapped inside their homes,” said Abu Jehad.
Hamas ally Islamic Jihad said it killed some foot soldiers in Jabalia, while Israel’s military said it had eliminated many militants in an area it had claimed to have cleared months ago.