Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that the country’s military was “moving toward full control” of the Gaza Strip, as a wave of intensified airstrikes and ground assaults killed dozens more overnight.
According to Gaza’s Health Authority, Israeli bombardments killed over 300 people in the 72 hours leading up to early Monday. Children were among the dead following a series of airstrikes in the southern city of Khan Younis, which continued even after Netanyahu announced Israel would allow limited food aid to reduce the risk of famine.
Israel says its offensive is focused on dismantling Hamas and securing the return of remaining hostages. The group took around 250 people captive during its Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which left approximately 1,200 people dead, according to Israeli figures.
In a statement Monday, Hamas accused the Israeli military of launching “hundreds of highly destructive shells, missiles, and bombs daily” at densely populated residential neighborhoods.
The Israel Defense Forces said it had struck 160 “terror targets” in the previous 24 hours.
