Israel's cabinet to give final approval to Gaza City offensive tonight: source

JERUSALEM -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his security cabinet are expected to meet tonight to give final approval to the new offensive on Gaza City, an Israeli official told Xinhua on Thursday on condition of anonymity.

It came a day after Israel's military spokesman Effie Defrin said ground assaults were already under way in Gaza City's Zaytun neighborhood and the nearby town of Jabalia, with more forces set to join the fighting.

According to the military, 60,000 reservists had been called up, with another 20,000 to follow in the coming days. The military said it now holds "operational control" over about 75 percent of Gaza.

The offensive, which has drawn fierce international criticism, was described by Netanyahu as an attempt to "defeat Hamas and conquer Gaza City."

Also on Thursday, the Israeli military began making what it called "warning calls" to medical officials and international organizations in northern Gaza, telling them to evacuate the population from Gaza City to southern Gaza ahead of the new offensive.

Gaza-based health authorities said in an update on Thursday that Israeli attacks on Gaza killed at least 70 people, including 18 aid workers, and injured 356, including 117 aid workers, over the past 24 hours.

Since Oct 7, 2023, Israel's ongoing military campaign in Gaza has killed 62,192 people and injured 157,114 others, they said, adding that starvation and malnutrition in Gaza have caused 271 deaths, including 112 children.