israeli-palestinian war
Israeli ground troops fighting to destroy Hamas surrounded Gaza City yesterday as top US diplomat Antony Blinken arrived in Israel for a trip focused on “concrete steps” to minimise Palestinian civilian casualties.
In Geneva, the UN launched an emergency aid appeal seeking $1.2 billion (R22bn) to help some 2.7 million people facing a “catastrophic” humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the West Bank.
Ahead of Blinken’s arrival, Israel’s military said it had “completed the encirclement” of Gaza’s largest city – signalling a new phase in the nearly month-long conflict.
