The Israeli military announced Thursday its ground forces are advancing deeper into southern Gaza, targeting the Shabura refugee camp in Rafah City as part of an expanded offensive. Troops dismantled multiple \"terrorist infrastructure sites\" in the area, according to an official statement released alongside renewed clashes in northern and central Gaza.
Israeli authorities stated the campaign aims to establish a security buffer zone to separate Gaza\u2019s northern and southern regions. Operations also struck the inactive Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital, which the military alleged served as a Hamas command center—a claim Hamas denies.
Hours after Israel\u2019s announcement, air raid sirens blared across central and southern Israel as Hamas\u2019 Al-Qassam Brigades claimed responsibility for a rocket barrage. The Israel Defense Forces reported intercepting one rocket, while others landed in open areas, causing no casualties.
Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner-general of the UN Relief and Works Agency, warned Thursday that intensified evacuations and aid blockades risk deepening Gaza’s humanitarian crisis. \"The worst is yet to come,\" he stated, noting over 591 Palestinians killed and 1,042 injured since hostilities resumed after a brief ceasefire.
With evacuation orders displacing tens of thousands, international observers fear prolonged conflict as diplomatic efforts stall.
