Palestinians walk through the aftermath of the Israeli military raid on Nur Shams refugee camp in the West Bank, Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023. Israel's forces raided a refugee camp in the northern occupied West Bank, killing at least six Palestinians, Palestinian health authorities said early Wednesday. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)
Israel Palestinians
RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel launched heavy strikes across central and southern Gaza overnight after broadening its offensive against Hamas to more areas where the military had told Palestinians to seek shelter earlier in the war. Residents reported heavy bombing in the built-up Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza, in the southern city of Khan Younis and in the southern town of Rafah. Those are areas where tens of thousands have sought refuge as much of northern Gaza was pounded to rubble. Israel has said the bombing campaign and ground offensive are necessary to dismantle Hamas and prevent a repeat of its October 7th attack. In that assault, militants killed some 1,200 people in Israel and abducted around 240. The Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza says more than 21,100 Palestinians have been killed.
