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As Israel’s offensive into southern Gaza widens with intensified bombardment, residents said that the military struck the border town of Rafah, one of the last safe spaces for civilians, twice overnight on Thursday.
Over this week, Israeli ground forces and air support have pushed into Khan Younis, Gaza’s second-largest city, which Israeli officials have portrayed as Hamas’ center of gravity — something they previously said was in Gaza City and its Shifa Hospital.
Meanwhile, the United Nations chief has used a rarely exercised power to warn the Security Council of an impending “humanitarian catastrophe” in Gaza. Invoking Article 99, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres Wednesday urged its members to demand an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.
Death toll: More than 16,200 Gazans have been killed and 42,000 wounded in Israeli attacks that followed the Oct. 7 Hamas onslaught that killed 1,200 Israelis.
Here’s a round-up of the latest developments so far:
- 01
Israeli tanks near Hamas leader Sinwar’s home, say Khan Younis residents
While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli forces encircled the Khan Younis house of Hamas leader Yahya Al-Sinwar, residents said Israeli tanks had neared Sinwar’s home but it was not known whether he was there. As per AP reports, Israel has said it believes many Hamas leaders and fighters are holed up in underground tunnels.
Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari was quoted saying that Sinwar is “not aboveground, he is underground.” But he did not elaborate on where Israel believes him to be. “Our job is to find Sinwar and kill him, he said.
The Israeli military also said its special forces at Khan Younis had broken through defense lines of Hamas fighters.
- 02
UN chief warns of impending ‘humanitarian catastrophe’
In a letter invoking the rarely used Article 99, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned the Security Council on Wednesday of an impending “humanitarian catastrophe” in Gaza and urged its members to demand an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.
Article 99 of the UN Charter says the secretary-general may inform the council of matters he believes threaten international peace and security.
His letter to the council’s 15 members said Gaza’s humanitarian system was at risk of collapse after two months of war that has created “appalling human suffering, physical destruction and collective trauma,” and he demanded civilians be spared greater harm.
I’ve just invoked Art.99 of the UN Charter – for the 1st time in my tenure as Secretary-General.
Facing a severe risk of collapse of the humanitarian system in Gaza, I urge the Council to help avert a humanitarian catastrophe & appeal for a humanitarian ceasefire to be declared. pic.twitter.com/pA0eRXZnFJ
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) December 6, 2023
- 03
Israel’s Security Cabinet approves fuel deliveries to Gaza: PM Netanyahu
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said his Security Cabinet has approved small deliveries of fuel into the Gaza Strip to prevent a humanitarian crisis and the spread of disease in the crowded southern part of the besieged territory, according to AP.
The “minimal amount” of fuel is said to be decided by the three-member authority in charge of managing the war against Hamas. Netanyahu’s office said shipments would be approved “from time to time” for the southern Gaza Strip, where the vast majority of Gaza’s population is concentrated.
The decision comes as Israel faces mounting pressure from the United States to ramp up aid to Gaza to avoid mass civilian casualties.
- 04
Fighting continues in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis; aid blocked
Widening of the Israel’s offensive into southern Gaza was bringing to the second largest city Khan Younis the same intensified bombardment that ravaged the northern part of the enclave.
Ahead of the assault, Israel reportedly urged residents to evacuate Khan Younis and go south toward the border with Egypt. But neither Israel nor Egypt are accepting refugees, complicating the status of the evacuees.
Residents told Reuters that military tanks have driven into Gaza across the border and cut off the main north-south route. The Israeli military said the central road out of Khan Younis to the north “constitutes a battlefield” and was now shut.
- 05
Arab nations call for ceasefire in Gaza at the UN
Arab nations at the United Nations are fine-tuning a proposed UN Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war as Israeli forces widen offensive in northern parts of the Gaza Strip.
The Palestinian UN ambassador Riyad Mansour Wednesday said that it’s essential that the UN’s most powerful body demand a halt to the conflict following the resumption of fighting after the end of a week-long humanitarian truce on December 1.
A ministerial delegation from 22-member Arab nations group and the 57-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation headed by Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister will be in Washington on Thursday to meet with US officials, as per AP.
- 06
Israel offensive moves to Rafah
Israeli forces struck the southern Gaza town of Rafah twice overnight, residents said Thursday, sowing fear in one of the last places where civilians could seek refuge after Israel widened its offensive against Hamas to areas already packed with displaced people.
“We have said it repeatedly. We are saying it again:
𝙉𝙤 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙖𝙛𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙂𝙖𝙯𝙖 , whether in the south, or the southwest, whether in Rafah or in any unilaterally so-called ‘safe zone’.” – Philippe Lazzarini, @UNRWA Chief pic.twitter.com/A3XBcJ4n7K
— United Nations Geneva (@UNGeneva) December 6, 2023
The areas where Palestinians can seek safety are rapidly receding. With northern and central Gaza largely isolated and cut off from aid, Palestinians are heading south to Rafah and other areas along the border with Egypt, where family homes are packed tight and makeshift shelters are overflowing. Even there, safety has proven elusive, as Israel continues to strike what it says are Hamas targets across the coastal enclave. (AP)
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