Israeli military announces start of major ground offensive in Gaza
The Israeli military announced on Sunday that it had launched a major ground operation in the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli Defense Force said it is deploying ground troops, and has "eliminated" dozens of fighters of the Islamic group Hamas, and dismantled "infrastructure sites" of the group.
The Israeli Air Force also has been conducting intensive airstrikes across Gaza. Palestinian media reported that 17 Palestinians were killed on Monday in airstrikes on Khan Younis and other areas.
Footage of a hospital in Khan Younis taken by a crew from NHK's Gaza office early Monday shows many injured people being hauled to the hospital on trucks, and children receiving treatment there.
The air raids have claimed more than 100 lives on a daily basis. There appears to be no end to the rapid surge in the number of casualties.
Against this backdrop, the Israeli government announced on Sunday it will allow a basic amount of food to be brought into Gaza.
It has blocked humanitarian aid from being brought into the strip since early March. Gazans face an acute shortage of food and medicine.
It remains to be seen whether the food will reach the over 2 million Gazans in the enclave amid intensifying ground operations and airstrikes.
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