Israel launches heavy attacks on Gaza while the UN urges increased aid

Israel's ongoing bombardment of the Gaza Strip continued throughout the night on Friday, with reports of sustained air strikes and bombardments. According to Palestinian media, an Israeli air strike on the Nuseirat refugee camp resulted in the deaths of at least 18 people. Israel's army also ordered people in another camp, Bureij, to move south as it continued its ground offensive. The UN Security Council adopted a resolution in New York, urging more humanitarian aid for Gaza. However, the resolution did not call for an immediate ceasefire. The official Palestinian news agency, Wafa, reported that at least 18 people died and dozens were injured in an air strike on a house in Nuseirat. It also mentioned that an air strike destroyed a water treatment plant in Jabalia. Residents of Bureij were forced to leave and move south, but many questioned where they could go since there seemed to be no safe place. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire, with a severe shortage of water and food. The UN's World Food Programme estimates that around 500,000 people, or a quarter of all households in Gaza, are facing catastrophic hunger conditions. Israel launched its offensive after Hamas fighters crossed into Israel from Gaza, resulting in the death of 1,200 people and the kidnapping of over 240 others. According to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza, at least 20,000 people have been killed and 50,000 injured in the Gaza Strip since then. Israel's military has expressed regret for civilian casualties but blames Hamas for operating in densely populated areas. The UN Security Council adopted a resolution aimed at introducing extended humanitarian pauses and corridors in Gaza. The US and Russia abstained from the vote, while the rest of the council members backed the resolution. The resolution calls for the immediate, safe, and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance in Gaza and the appointment of a coordinator to speed up aid distribution. Hamas criticized the resolution, considering it insufficient to meet the needs of the people in Gaza. The Israeli military spokesperson urged the international community and organizations to enforce the resolution. UN Secretary General António Guterres expressed concern over Israel's offensive, stating that it posed significant obstacles to aid distribution in Gaza.