Israeli Tanks Advance Towards Northern Gaza Strip; Clashes Between Hamas and Israeli Army Continue

Reuters reported, citing residents of Gaza, that Israeli forces have expanded their attack into northern Gaza, with tanks reaching the northern edge of Gaza City, targeting some areas of the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood and forcing many families to flee their homes. According to doctors, in the early hours of Monday, an Israeli airstrike on several tents of Palestinian refugees inside Al-Aqsa Hospital in the city of Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, where Reuters noted one million people had taken refuge, left three dead and 40 injured. The Israeli army stated that it targeted militants operating in a command center within the premises and accused Hamas of using civilian facilities such as hospitals for military purposes, which Hamas denies. Residents report that Israeli forces have effectively isolated the neighborhoods of Beit Hanoun, Jabalia, and Beit Lahia at the extreme north of the besieged Gaza City, blocking access between the two areas except for families willing to heed evacuation orders and leave the three cities. Nine days into Israel's large-scale operation in northern Gaza, Hamas's media office claimed that Israeli attacks had killed about 300 Palestinians there. The statement claimed that the bombing of civilian homes and refugee shelters by Israel aimed to force residents to leave Gaza once and for all, a claim Israel denies. According to doctors, late on Sunday, shelling from Israeli tanks killed at least 22 Palestinians at a school sheltering displaced families in the Nuseirat camp in central Gaza. The Israeli army announced on Sunday that operational forces across the Gaza Strip had attacked about 40 targets in the past 24 hours, killing dozens of Hamas-affiliated militants. Armed branches of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and smaller groups stated that their fighters attacked Israeli forces in Jabalia and surrounding areas with anti-tank rockets and mortars. Palestinian officials and the United Nations say there is no safe area in Gaza. They also expressed concern over severe shortages of food, fuel, and medical supplies in northern Gaza, stating that "there is a risk of famine there." Kamala Harris, the U.S. Vice President, on Sunday, citing UN reports that no food had entered northern Gaza in nearly two weeks, said, "Israel must take immediate further actions to facilitate the flow of aid to those in need." Targeting a school in Gaza; Israel: Hamas's misuse of civilian infrastructure. The U.S. Vice President called for "immediate action" by Israel to facilitate aid to Gaza. The UN Secretary-General stated that any attack on peacekeeping forces could be considered a "war crime." Israel claims to have attacked 230 targets in Lebanon and Gaza in one day.