Israel-Hamas War: Over 20 days into the battle and Gaza braces for further intense actions as the Israeli military prepares to "expand its operations" in the Gaza Strip. Palestinian Health Ministry has released the names of more than 6,000 "documented deaths" in the enclave since Israel launched its offensive, reported CNN. It said 7,028 Palestinians were killed, including 2,913 children. UNGA, meanwhile, adopted a resolution for a 'humanitarian truce' in Gaza. However, India abstained from voting on the resolution. Here are the top developments in the conflict.
Israel 'Expands Ground Operations', Asks People To Move South
The heaviest bombardments on Gaza since October 7 Hamas's attack has ripped apart the region, reported BBC. The Overnight visuals show the Gaza skyline with air strikes as Israel "expands ground operation". The Israeli military on Friday again asked the Gaza residents to move south after announcing the expansion of its operations.
"In continuation of the offensive activity we carried out in the last few days, the ground forces are expanding the ground activity this evening," Israel Defence Forces (IDF) spokesman Daniel Hagari said in a press conference, as quoted by BBC.
Hagari said it is "operating forcefully" on all fronts and will "continue striking Gaza City," reported CNN.
Amid the escalation of Israeli actions, its military told news organisations that it cannot guarantee the safety of journalists reporting from Gaza, according to Reuters.
The IDF wrote to Reuters and AFP, "The IDF is targeting all Hamas military activity throughout Gaza," the IDF letter said, adding that Hamas deliberately put military operations "in the vicinity of journalists and civilians".
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has said at least 29 journalists have been killed since the first attack by Hamas on October 7, CNN stated.
Gaza Faces 'Near Total' Internet Blackout, UN Wings Lose Contact With Staff
The Gaza Strip is down with all kinds of communications with UN and WHO staff losing contact with volunteers there and the Hamas-controlled enclave facing a 'total or near total' internet blackout.
The internet monitoring service Netblocks said on X that there had been a "collapse in connectivity".
"Live network data show a collapse in connectivity in the #Gaza Strip with high impact to Paltel, amid reports of heavy bombardment; the company is the last remaining major operator to supply service as connectivity declines amid ongoing fighting with Israel," it added.
It is the biggest communication and internet blockage in the region since the onset of war earlier this month.
According to BBC, the Palestinian Red Crescent said it could not speak to its teams in Gaza.
"We are deeply concerned about the ability of our teams to continue providing their emergency medical services, especially since this disruption affects the central emergency number '101'," they wrote on X. Several United Nations agencies stated they have lost contact with their local staff in Gaza
World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on X that the UN body has lost touch with its "staff, health facilities, health workers and the rest of our humanitarian partners on the ground."
Lynn Hastings, the UN resident and humanitarian coordinator in Palestine, also took to X and said, "Gaza has lost contact with the outside world amid reports of intensified bombardment."
The UN's Children's Fund executive director, Catherine Russell, said that she is "extremely concerned" about her team in Gaza after losing touch with them.
UNGA Adopts Resolution, Calls For Immediate And Sustained 'Humanitarian Truce'
After the United Nations Security Council failed on four occasions to reach a consensus on any action. the United Nations General Assembly on Friday adopted a resolution calling for an "immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce" between Israeli forces and Hamas militants in Gaza.
The resolution sought "continuous, sufficient and unhindered" provision of lifesaving supplies and services for civilians trapped inside the enclave, the UN agency said citing news reports suggesting Israel has expanded ground operations and intensified its bombing in the Gaza Strip.
The resolution was brought in by Jordan and backed by a large majority of Member States, with 120 votes in favour, 14 against and 45 abstentions. It is the first formal response of the United Nations to the war since the Hamas terror attacks of 7 October.
India meanwhile abstained from voting on the UN General Assembly resolution on the "protection of civilians and upholding legal and humanitarian obligations" on the Gaza crisis. However, India voted in favour of a Canada-led amendment condemning 'terrorist attacks by Hamas'. This draft resolution failed to pass at the UNGA as it could not secure a two-thirds majority.
Israel Rejects UNGA's Call For Humanitarian Ceasefire
Israel meanwhile rejected the call for a "humanitarian" ceasefire in Gaza approved through a resolution by the United Nations General Assembly and called it "despicable".
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said, "We reject outright the UN General Assembly despicable call for a ceasefire. Israel intends to eliminate Hamas just as the world dealt with the Nazis and ISIS."
'History Is Judging Us All': UN Secy Gen's Fresh Appeal
As a worse phase of war approaches the Gaza Strip, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Friday appealed for more aid in the enclave, saying "histoy is judging us all".
"I repeat my call for a humanitarian ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages, and the delivery of lifesaving supplies at the scale needed," he said, according to the official UN News website.
He said misery in Gaza is growing "by the minute".
"Everyone must assume their responsibilities. This is a moment of truth. History is judging us all," the UN Secretary-General said just hours before UN agencies reported that phone lines, internet and mobile service in Gaza went down.