The Israeli military continues its offensive in the Gaza Strip while issuing evacuation orders to residents there. The United Nations has expressed deep concern over the worsening humanitarian situation in the enclave.
The military pressed forward with operations in Gaza on Saturday. Local media say 15 people died in central Gaza.
Israeli forces have repeatedly notified Gaza residents in advance of military operations and ordered them to evacuate to places they designate as humanitarian areas.
But the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said on Friday that the size of the so-called humanitarian area has been reduced to 11 percent of the total area of the Gaza Strip.
The UN office also pointed to a shortage of tents, hygiene and other supplies.
Negotiators wrapped up two-day talks on a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages in Doha, Qatar, on Friday.
A senior official of US President Joe Biden’s administration said a new proposal designed to bridge gaps between Israel and Hamas was presented. The official said negotiators will meet again by the end of next week in Cairo.
Iran had earlier vowed to take revenge on Israel over the killing of the Hamas political leader in July in Tehran.
Reuters news agency on Friday quoted a response by Iran’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations when asked if the country would continue to hold off on retaliating against Israel now that the ceasefire talks had been extended. The mission reportedly said, “We hope so.”
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