Israel expands offensive in central Gaza

JERUSALEM — Israel declared on Tuesday the expansion of its ground offensive in the central Gaza Strip.

It came as the United Nations warned that the escalation of attacks is exacerbating a "catastrophic" humanitarian crisis in the conflict-ravaged enclave, and appointed a humanitarian coordinator for Gaza.

Israel previously urged the residents of Gaza to move from the northern region to the central and southern regions, which it claimed as "safe zones". However, the Israeli forces later expanded their strikes across the strip, including the central and southern parts.

In a statement, UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Seif Magango reported that more than 50 strikes occurred in central Gaza on Sunday and Monday, targeting the refugee camps in Bureij, Nuseirat, and Maghazi, where two strikes hit seven residential buildings, killing at least 86 people.

The escalated Israeli bombardment, said Magango, is "deepening an already catastrophic humanitarian situation."

Residents of central Gaza described shelling and airstrikes shaking the Nuseirat, Maghazi and Bureij camps.

"The bombing was very intense," Radwan Abu Sheitta, a teacher, said by phone from Bureij.

The UN on Tuesday said Sigrid Kaag, the outgoing Dutch finance minister, will be the coordinator for humanitarian relief shipments into Gaza as part of a UN Security Council resolution adopted on Friday.

Israel Defense Forces Chief of the General Staff Herzi Halevi said in an address to soldiers that the attacks will now concentrate on central and southern Gaza.

The Israeli objectives — eliminating Hamas and bringing back home about 129 hostages who are still held in Gaza — "are not simple to achieve", Halevi noted, saying that the fight would continue "for many more months".

Israel on Tuesday announced that it will no longer grant automatic visas to UN employees, accusing the United Nations of being "complicit partners" in Hamas' tactics.

There are growing signs the conflict is starting to spread, Reuters reported.

Yemen's Houthi militia claimed responsibility for a missile attack on Tuesday on a container ship in the Red Sea and for an attempt to attack Israel with drones.

The Houthis have been attacking ships they say have links to Israel at the entrance to the Red Sea, one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. The attacks are a response to Israel's assault on Gaza, the militia says.

An Israeli airstrike killed a senior leader of Iran's Revolutionary Guards in Syria on Monday.

In India, meanwhile, there was an explosion near the Israeli embassy in New Delhi. Authorities said no staff members were hurt.

Meanwhile, Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer was meeting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan in Washington on Tuesday for talks on the conflict and the return of hostages, the White House said.

Agencies - Xinhua