Deaths and attacks in Gaza, news and more

Israeli leaders have announced that they have taken control of the northern part of Gaza, including Gaza City, and there are indications that a ground offensive in the south may be imminent.

On Wednesday, leaflets were dropped on four communities east of Khan Yunis, the largest city in the southern Gaza Strip, warning residents not to “go to known shelters.”

But there are still few safe places in the densely populated enclave.

Humanitarian organizations said that any Israeli advance in southern Gaza could exacerbate the already dire humanitarian situation.

The World Food Program warned in a statement on Thursday that Gazans face the “immediate possibility of hunger” inside the besieged territory, as fuel shortages paralyze food production and distribution.

The Director-General of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Philippe Lazzarini, said on Thursday that there was also a “complete blackout of communications” in Gaza due to fuel shortages.

Here’s what you should know:

Tunnel shaft: The Israeli military released a video on Thursday supporting its claims that it had found a “tunnel pit” on the grounds of Shifa Hospital in Gaza. The Hamas government’s press office denied that the hospital was being used as a command and control center, and described the Israeli allegations as “baseless lies.” The hospital has become the center of the fighting since Israeli forces launched a military raid there early on Wednesday.

“Children are dying of hunger”On Thursday, the director of Al-Shifa Hospital described the deteriorating conditions inside the medical complex in Gaza. Muhammad Abu Salmiya said, in a phone call with Al Jazeera Arabic, that the displaced children were left without water and milk in the center, which houses more than 650 wounded, 36 novice children, 45 kidney patients, and 5,000 displaced people. Abu Salamiya said the lack of medical supplies is forcing staff to make “painful” decisions.

Caught shotMeanwhile, doctors at the Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza City said they could not reach the wounded outside due to heavy fighting in the area, the Gaza Strip said Thursday, in a statement from the Palestinian Red Crescent.

Diplomatic opinions: State Department spokesman Matt Miller said in a press conference held on Thursday that the United States had not made any assessment of whether Israel had “violated international humanitarian law.” Meanwhile, EU diplomacy chief Josep Borrell urged Israel “not to let anger consume it.”

Fighting in Lebanon: On Thursday morning, Israel launched missile and artillery raids on the outskirts of the Lebanese border towns of Naqoura, Blida, Alma al-Shaab, and Labouneh, according to the Lebanese National News Agency.

Evacuations: The State Department reported that approximately 700 US citizens, lawful permanent residents, and their family members left Gaza through the Rafah border crossing into Egypt, and that there were fewer than 900 US citizens, lawful permanent residents, and their family members remaining in Gaza. . The Spanish Foreign Minister announced on Thursday that 139 Palestinian Spanish citizens and their family members, who were evacuated from Gaza, have arrived in Spain.