al jazeera

By Usaid Siddiqui and Tim Hume
    Heavy bombardment has been reported in Gaza City early on Saturday as Israel says its planned seizure of the besieged Palestinian territory’s largest area is progressing.
    At least 18 Palestinians, including aid seekers, killed by Israeli attacks across Gaza since dawn.
   The United States has said it will not allow Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to travel to New York next month for a United Nations gathering of world leaders, where several US allies are set to recognise Palestine as a state.
   The UN’s agency for Palestinian refugees warned that the Israeli operation in Gaza City could re-displace one million people.
   Israel has killed at least 63,025 people and wounded 159,490 in its war on Gaza. A total of 1,139 people were killed in Israel during the October 7 attacks and about 200 were taken captive.

Child dies of malnutrition in Gaza

    A baby girl has died of malnutrition, a source at Gaza City’s Al-Shifa hospital has told Al Jazeera, becoming the latest victim of the Israeli-forced famine in Gaza.

    On Friday, Gaza’s Health Ministry said that 322 people had died of hunger-related causes in Gaza, 121 of whom were children.

    Earlier this month, a global hunger monitor confirmed that famine was occurring in Gaza governorate, which includes Gaza City and surrounding areas.

Ambush of Israeli soldiers a ‘strategic headache’

    Military and political analyst Elijah Magnier says the latest ambush by Palestinian fighters in Gaza City highlights both the tactical and political challenges facing Israel in its offensive.

    “The ambush shows that the battle for Gaza City will not only be measured in territorial gain by the Israelis, but in more political pressure and the delicate balance between military objectives and human costs, including the Israeli soldiers that are attacking, but above all, the Palestinians,” he told Al Jazeera.

    “This ambush is going to cause a strategic headache. The Israeli army chief warned that this is something that can happen, and he wanted to make sure that the responsibility falls on the decision-makers.”

    Magnier said the Gaza City offensive will have “psychological consequences” for the Israeli army itself, and is likely to “divide Israeli society further”.

Seven Israeli soldiers injured in IED attack

    Israeli media is reporting that at least seven soldiers have been injured, three in serious condition, in recent attacks in Gaza, one of which involved an IED blast targeting an armoured personnel carrier.

Gaza death toll rises

    At least 18 Palestinians, including four aid seekers, have been killed by Israeli forces since dawn.