World Desk

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday defended a new, broader military offensive in Gaza, saying Israel “has no choice but to finish the job and complete the defeat of Hamas.”

The expanded operation targets Hamas strongholds not only in Gaza City but also in the heavily populated “central camps” and Muwasi areas, officials said.

The camps, sheltering over half a million displaced people, were not included in the initial announcement last Friday. Netanyahu said the offensive would include “safe zones,” though similar areas have been bombed before.

Heavy bombardment continued in Gaza City late Sunday. Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif and three other journalists were killed in a strike near Shifa Hospital. Israel’s military accused al-Sharif of posing as a journalist and alleged ties to Hamas, which he denied.

Netanyahu spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump, thanking him for “steadfast support.” He rejected accusations of starving Gaza’s population and said Israel plans to increase aid distribution sites. He reaffirmed Israel’s goal to demilitarize Gaza, maintain security control, and establish a non-Israeli civilian administration.

The United States defended Israel’s right to self-defense during a UN Security Council meeting, while China and Russia condemned collective punishment and warned against escalating violence.

Meanwhile, at least 31 Palestinians were killed while seeking aid in Gaza, with witnesses accusing Israeli forces of firing on crowds near food distribution points. The humanitarian crisis worsens, with two children dying from malnutrition Saturday, bringing the hunger death toll among children to 100 since the war began.

The Gaza Health Ministry reports a total of 61,400 Palestinians killed in the conflict, half of them women and children.