Israel Escalates Gaza Offensive, UN Investigates Strike On Staff Member

• UN investigates strike on staff member, footage of armed men near UNRWA vehicles, amid stalled ceasefire talks.
• Israel intensifies war on Gaza, fighting militants in Rafah, a civilian refuge.
• 35,000 Palestinians killed since October, 82 on Tuesday, highest single-day toll in weeks.

Eko hot blog reports that Israel’s war on Gaza has intensified, with Israeli troops fighting militants in the southern city of Rafah, a refuge for civilians.

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This move has worsened tensions with the United Nations, which is investigating an unidentified strike that killed an international staff member in Gaza.

The Israeli army has pressed into eastern Rafah, seeking four Hamas battalions, despite warnings from the US and others to avoid mass civilian casualties.

Since Hamas’ October 7 attack, Israel has killed 35,000 Palestinians, with 82 dead on Tuesday, the highest single-day toll in weeks.

Hamas-led gunmen killed 1,200 people in their initial raid and still hold 128 hostages.

In Jabalia, Israeli tanks have destroyed homes, trapping families inside.

Islamic Jihad claims to have killed Israeli soldiers, while Israel’s military says it has eliminated militants.

Israeli tanks have massed around Rafah, probing into built-up areas where hundreds of thousands of displaced people are sheltering.

Residents report Israeli forces pushing into eastern neighborhoods, with Palestinian gunmen resisting.

Israel targeted a training compound, killing militants and finding weapons.

Israel reported one death in south Gaza, its first since the ground operation began.

The UN is investigating footage showing armed men next to UNRWA vehicles, which Israel claims is evidence of UN cooperation with Hamas.

UNRWA denies this, and senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri says the men were protecting aid distribution.

The UN is also probing the death of an international staff member in Rafah.

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As the fighting intensifies, ceasefire talks are at a stalemate, with Hamas demanding a permanent end to Israeli attacks and Netanyahu’s government refusing to stop until Hamas is annihilated.

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