17 killed as Israel steps up campaign in Gaza ahead of Netanyahu's US visit
The intensified operations came after days of mounting calls for a ceasefire, with US President Donald Trump — whom Netanyahu is slated to meet with next week — among those urging Israel to strike a new deal to halt the war and bring home the hostages still held in Gaza.
Israel's campaign to destroy the Palestinian group Hamas has continued unabated, however, with Gaza's civil defence agency reporting Israeli forces killed 17 people on Tuesday.
In response to reports of deadly strikes in the north and south of the territory, the Israeli army told AFP it was 'operating to dismantle Hamas military capabilities'.
Separately, it said Tuesday morning that in recent days it had 'expanded its operations to additional areas within the Gaza Strip, eliminating dozens of terrorists, and dismantling hundreds of terror infrastructure sites both above and below ground'.
Raafat Halles, 39, from the Shujaiya district of Gaza City district, said 'air strikes and shelling have intensified over the past week', and tanks have been advancing.
'I believe that every time negotiations or a potential ceasefire are mentioned, the army escalates crimes and massacres on the ground,' he said. 'I don't know why.'
Amer Daloul, a 44-year-old resident of Gaza City, also reported fiercer clashes between Israeli forces and militants in recent days, telling AFP that he and his family were forced to flee the tent they were living in at dawn on Tuesday 'due to heavy and random gunfire and shelling'.
In the southern city of Rafah, resident Mohammed Abdel Aal, 41, said 'tanks are present' in most parts of town.
Civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP that eight people were killed near aid distribution sites in central and southern Gaza Tuesday, in the latest in a long-running spate of deadly attacks on those seeking food.
One person was killed and 50 wounded when tanks and drones opened fire as crowds were waiting to collect aid near the Wadi Gaza Bridge in the middle of the territory, Bassal said.
The civil defence said another six people were killed nearby while trying to reach the same aid centre.
Asked for comment, the Israeli military told AFP its forces 'fired warning shots to distance suspects who approached the troops', adding it was not aware of any injuries but would review the incident.
At least one more person was killed near another aid centre in Rafah, the civil defence said.
Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties in accessing many areas mean AFP is unable to independently verify the tolls and details provided by rescuers.
A group of 169 aid organisations called Monday for an end to Gaza's 'deadly' new US- and Israeli-backed aid distribution scheme, which they said forced starving civilians to 'trek for hours through dangerous terrain and active conflict zones, only to face a violent, chaotic race' for food.
They urged a return to the UN-led aid mechanism that existed until March, when Israel imposed a full blockade on humanitarian assistance entering Gaza during an impasse in truce talks with Hamas.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
35 minutes ago
- Express Tribune
PPP accused of embezzling canal cleaning funds
In a scathing statement issued on Friday, Awami Tehreek (AT) leaders alleged that influential feudal lords affiliated with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) have misappropriated funds allocated for the desilting and maintenance of canals and distributaries across Sindh, despite clear forecasts of heavy monsoon rains and potential flooding. The party's central president Advocate Vasand Thari, General Secretary Advocate Sajid Hussain Mahesar, and senior leaders condemned what they termed "criminal negligence" by the government. They claimed that no preventive measures had been taken to safeguard vulnerable areas from seasonal disasters. According to the statement, funds earmarked for canal cleaning were allegedly siphoned off by PPP-backed landlords, while embankment repairs were marred by record-breaking corruption. "The funds have been left dangerously weak, increasing the risk of breaches," the leaders warned. The criticism extended to federal and provincial disaster management authorities. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) were accused of preparing to misappropriate relief funds meant for flood victims. "Despite receiving billions in funding, the NDMA has failed to provide even a single rupee in aid to those affected," the statement read. AT leaders further alleged that both federal and provincial governments lack a coherent disaster preparedness strategy. "NDMA has become a failed institution," they said, adding that the agency is staffed primarily by part-time workers, despite the critical need for full-time disaster response professionals. They also criticised the recruitment of personnel from unrelated departments, which they claim has rendered the authority dysfunctional. Calling NDMA a "hub of corruption," the leaders demanded immediate accountability and structural reforms.
Express Tribune
an hour ago
- Express Tribune
Bad Bunny calls out Trump's immigration policies in new ‘NUEVAYoL' music video
Puerto Rican reggaeton star Bad Bunny released the music video for his song 'NUEVAYoL' on July 4, using the platform to criticize former President Donald Trump's anti-immigrant policies. The video features a faux voice recording of Trump apologizing to immigrants, saying, 'This country is nothing without the immigrants. This country is nothing without Mexicans, Dominicans, Puerto Ricans, Colombians, Venezuelans, Cubans…' The politically charged message comes amid recent immigration crackdowns, including multiple ICE raids in Southern California since early June. On July 3, Congress passed Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill,' allocating $45 billion for immigration detention centers and $30 billion for ICE staffing and operations. The 'NUEVAYoL' video also pays homage to Bad Bunny's Puerto Rican heritage, featuring a striking image of the Puerto Rican flag on the Statue of Liberty's forehead. The video closes with the empowering message 'Juntos Somos Más Fuertes' ('Together We Are Stronger'). Bad Bunny criticizes Donald Trump's immigration policy in his new music video for 'NUEVAYoL'. 🇵🇷🇺🇸 — Access Bad Bunny (@AccessBadBunny) July 4, 2025 Bad Bunny's latest album, DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS, blends his signature Latin urbano sound with traditional Puerto Rican music styles such as plena, salsa, and jíbaro. The 17-track album includes collaborations with local Puerto Rican artists like RaiNao, Omar Courtz, and Los Pleneros de la Cresta. In celebration of the album, Bad Bunny is hosting a massive concert residency, No Me Quiero Ir De Aquí, at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico from July 11 to September 14, expected to draw over 600,000 fans and boost Puerto Rico's tourism industry. Bad Bunny also announced a world tour starting November 21 in Santo Domingo, with stops across Latin America, Australia, Asia, and Europe—but notably excluding U.S. dates.
Business Recorder
2 hours ago
- Business Recorder
India proposes retaliatory duties at WTO against US tariffs on autos
NEW DELHI: New Delhi has proposed retaliatory duties against the U.S. at the World Trade Organization, saying Washington's 25% tariff on automobiles and some auto parts would affect $2.89 billion of India's exports, according to an official notification. 'India reserves the right to suspend concessions or other obligations … that are substantially equivalent to the adverse effects of the measure to India's trade,' the statement said. According to the notification, the duty collected by the U.S. would amount to $725 million and New Delhi will impose an 'equivalent amount of duty collected from products originating in the United States'. India proposes counter duties against US, notice to WTO shows India did not specify the tariff rate or which goods it would levy duties on. India is trying to clinch a trade deal with Washington before a July 9 deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump, after which he has threatened to impose a 26% tariff on all imported Indian goods. India has signalled it is ready to slash its high tariff rates for the U.S. but has not conceded on Washington's demands for opening up the agriculture and dairy sectors.
