Gaza civil defence says Israeli fire kills 40

Image from Gaza

Gaza’s civil defence agency said Israeli attacks killed at least 40 people on Saturday, as the Israeli military hinted at an approaching call to push civilians from Gaza City ahead of a new offensive.

The latest toll comes more than a week after Israel’s security cabinet approved plans to capture the Palestinian territory’s largest city, following 22 months of war that have created dire humanitarian conditions.

Ahead of the offensive, COGAT — the Israeli defence ministry body responsible for civil affairs in the Palestinian territories — said that starting from Sunday, the military would supply more tents and shelter equipment.

“As part of the preparations to move the population from combat zones to the southern Gaza Strip for their protection, the supply of tents and shelter equipment to Gaza will resume,” it said in a statement. Punch