Israel steps up Gaza ground offensive, UN wants another crossing opened

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231031_20/

Tuesday, Oct. 31, 5:44XFacebookShareIsraeli troops are reportedly stepping up their ground offensive in the Gaza Strip and attacking the area to the south of the most heavily populated Gaza City.

Israel continued intense air raids in Gaza on Monday. Multiple local media outlets report that Israeli forces at one point reached Salah al-Din Street, a thoroughfare running north to south through the territory.

Local photojournalists have shared footage of what appear to be Israeli tanks.

British broadcaster BBC says based on its analysis, the videos were taken south of Gaza City. It says the location is about 2 kilometers from Wadi Gaza, a river that splits the Gaza Strip into north and south.

Israel is believed to be aiming to divide Gaza in two and continue its offensive.

The World Health Organization says the humanitarian crisis is deepening and as of Monday, 491 people including 16 health workers on duty had been killed in attacks against medical facilities and elsewhere in Gaza.

Humanitarian relief goods from Egypt are proving insufficient and people looted UN warehouses in search of food and supplies on Saturday.

Senior UN aid official Lisa Doughten called for another crossing to be opened. She told the UN Security Council on Monday that "more than one entry point into Gaza is indispensable if we are to make a difference."

She said, "Kerem Shalom, between Israel and Gaza, is the only crossing equipped to rapidly process a sufficiently large number of trucks."