Israeli army pummels Gaza south as pressure piles on PM

GAZA/JERUSALEM — The Israeli army bombarded Khan Younis, the new epicenter of the conflict in Gaza, on Monday as the families of hostages held by Hamas urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reach a deal to secure their release.

Witnesses reported deadly strikes overnight in Khan Younis, the largest city in southern Gaza, and fierce fighting between Israeli soldiers and Hamas militants.

At least 50 Palestinians were killed and 100 wounded in Israeli military strikes on Khan Younis since Sunday night, the Gaza health ministry spokesman Ashraf Al-Qidra said on Monday.

A total of 25,295 Palestinians have been killed and 63,000 injured in Israeli strikes on Gaza, the Gaza health ministry said in a statement on Monday.

UN agencies have warned of famine and disease as Gazans, at least 1.7 million of whom are displaced, struggle with shortages of water, medical care and other essentials.

Netanyahu has vowed “complete victory” over Hamas after attacks by the fighters on Oct 7 killed about 1,140 people, mostly civilians, Agence France-Presse reported.

Hamas militants also seized about 250 hostages and Israel says around 132 remain in Gaza.

The conflict has spurred fears of a wider escalation, and sirens were heard again overnight in northern Israel near the border with Lebanon, according to the Israeli military.

There have been almost daily exchanges of fire between Israeli forces and the Hezbollah movement in Lebanon, and several areas of southern Lebanon were hit overnight.

Violence has also surged in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Hamas said in its first public report on the events that triggered the conflict that there had been “some faults” on its part but also called for an end to “Israeli aggression” in Gaza.

The Oct 7 attacks were a “necessary step” against Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories and a way to secure the release of Palestinian prisoners, it said in its 16-page report.

Israel is facing international pressure over the mounting death toll and humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Netanyahu is also under intense pressure to secure the return of the hostages.

Relatives and supporters of the hostages again rallied near Netanyahu’s residence in Jerusalem on Sunday night for their return.

“We are asking our government to listen, to sit down at the negotiating table and decide whether to accept this agreement or any other that would suit Israel,” said Gilad Korenbloom, whose son is a hostage in Gaza.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told Israel it couldn’t build peace “only by military means”, describing Netanyahu’s rejection of a two-state solution involving Palestinian sovereignty as “unacceptable” ahead of talks with Israeli and Palestinian top diplomats.