By Nader Durgham in Beirut
The Israeli army launched a fresh ground invasion of Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip on Thursday, while hitting various areas of the enclave with air strikes.
Medical sources told Al Jazeera that at least 110 Palestinians have been killed since dawn, bringing the death toll since Israel ended the ceasefire on Tuesday to more than 500.
Israel said it would no longer allow Palestinians to enter northern Gaza from the south, ordering residents to get away from the Salahuddin Road that runs down the enclave and to use the coastal road instead.
After not retaliating against Israel’s attacks in the past two days, Hamas fired rockets towards Tel Aviv.
Hamas’ armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, said they “bombed Tel Aviv with M90 missiles in response to the massacres of civilians”.
Qassam spokesman Abu Obeida also praised Yemen’s Ansar Allah, known as the Houthi movement, for also firing rockets at Israel in retaliation for the resumed war on Gaza.
“We call on the free people of our Ummah to engage in the battle to defend Al-Aqsa and to continue supporting Gaza to break the enemy’s power,” he said.
The Israeli army subsequently ordered Palestinians to leave the area of Bani Suheila in southern Gaza, saying this was where Hamas fired its rockets from.
Five staff members of Unrwa, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, have been killed by Israeli attacks on Gaza in the past few days, according to its chief Philippe Lazzarini.
“In the past few days another five Unrwa staff have been confirmed killed, bringing the death toll to 284. They were teachers, doctors and nurses, serving the most vulnerable,” he said on X.
“Israeli forces bombardment continues from air and sea for the third day. We are fearing that the worst is yet to come given the ongoing ground invasion separating the north from the south.”
Additionally, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres condemned the deadly Israeli strike on a UN compound in Gaza on Wednesday, without specifying who struck it.
“I am horrified by the death and critical injuries of colleagues when their compound was struck in Gaza today,” Guterres said on X. “I condemn all attacks against UN personnel and call for a full investigation.”
Israeli protesters dispersed
Hundreds of Israeli protesters who had gathered near Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence on Thursday were forcefully dispersed by the police.
They were demonstrating against Netanyahu’s failure to secure the release of the remaining Israeli captives in Gaza, his decision to return to war and endanger their lives, and his plan to fire the head of the Shin Bet, Israel’s internal intelligence agency.
Yair Golan, the leader of The Democrats opposition party, was knocked to the ground during the demonstration.
More than 49,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israel’s war on Gaza.
Israel’s actions in the besieged Palestinian enclave have led to accusations of genocide by leading UN bodies and human rights organisations.
It is currently on trial at the International Court of Justice, accused of breaching the Genocide Convention.
The article appeared in the middleeasteye