Israel continues to expand its campaign in Gaza

This video, shot from the roof of the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, shows large amounts of black smoke rising in the distance, and explosions can be heard in the distance. CNN has located a video posted on social media that appears to show gunfire in Khan Younis.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian media agency WAFA said the southern Gaza city had suffered “a series of airstrikes and shelling in several areas” on Sunday and that hospitals in the area were under increasing pressure.

World - Israel continues to expand its campaign in Gaza — *Photo: Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters.*

In an update issued on Sunday, the Israeli military said it had struck more than 250 Hamas targets in the past 24 hours, including what it described as military communications points and tunnels in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli military also said it would continue to clash with Hamas in several intense battles in the city of Khan Younis this week.

On Sunday, the IDF issued an “urgent request” for residents to evacuate Khan Younis after the city erupted in fighting. It is unclear how many people were aware of the request, given the slow communications network and lack of internet access in much of Gaza.

Some side news:

“Unprecedented” disaster : At the Doha Forum on Sunday, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani said Gaza was witnessing an “unprecedented humanitarian disaster.” While he offered a less optimistic assessment of the unwillingness of both sides to agree on a new truce, he said efforts were “ongoing.”

Palestinian Health Ministry Says Casualty Toll Nears 18,000 : A report released by the Palestinian Health Ministry in Ramallah on Sunday said at least 17,700 Palestinians were killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza from October 7 to December 9 (The report cited medical sources from inside the Gaza Strip).

The report also confirmed that 70% of the casualties were elderly people, women and children. In addition, the health ministry in Gaza reported a larger death toll, including casualties as of Sunday, reaching 17,997 people killed.

IDF soldier death toll rises : The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that an IDF soldier was killed in the Gaza Strip on Sunday, bringing the total number of IDF soldiers reported killed in Gaza since the beginning of the conflict to 97 soldiers.

On Sunday, the IDF also said that some 600 IDF soldiers have been wounded since the ground operation began on October 27.

Ceasefire call : UN Secretary-General António Guterres says he will “relentlessly” call for a ceasefire in Gaza – after the Security Council again failed to pass a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire.

At the Doha Forum on Sunday, he warned that public order “will soon collapse completely”.

Israel believes 137 hostages remain in Gaza : Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told CNN on Sunday that the Israeli government believes there are still 137 hostages being held in Gaza. Of these, 117 are believed to be alive and 20 others are believed to have died.

West Bank casualties rise to 275 : The number of Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks in the West Bank from October 7 to December 9 has reached 275, according to a report released by the Palestinian Health Ministry in Ramallah on Sunday.

US Secretary of State warns Israel needs to do better in protecting civilians : US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned the Israeli government to do more to protect civilians and deliver humanitarian aid into the region.

“They intend to do these things, but the results don’t just happen,” the US government official also strongly condemned the sexual violence that Hamas committed during the October 7 attack and criticized individuals who have not or have not condemned these incidents.

Nguyen Quang Minh (According to CNN)

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