Wednesday Briefing: Israel Expands Gaza Offensive

New York Times

5 days ago

Israeli strikes hit a W.H.O. facility in Gaza
The World Health Organization accused Israel of attacking its site in central Gaza after the Israeli military expanded its operations in the city of Deir al-Balah, which until recently had been left relatively unscathed.
Israel had spared Deir al-Balah because it believed that Hamas was holding Israeli and foreign hostages there, but that strategy appears to be changing.
A W.H.O. staff residence was damaged by airstrikes on Monday, the agency said in a statement. Israeli forces also entered the building, handcuffed and stripped male employees and family members sheltering there, and held them at gunpoint. Women and children were forcibly evacuated, the agency said.
An Israeli military official said that the strike took place after the staff was evacuated, and that Israeli forces had come under fire in the vicinity, leading them to respond.
Context: Deir al-Balah had been an informal refuge for Palestinians escaping other parts of Gaza, and huge tent camps have sprung up in the city. The city also hosts warehouses for the U.N. as well as guesthouses for U.N. staff.
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