GAZA: Israel pressed its offensive in Gaza on Friday despite mounting international calls for restraint, with key backer the United States saying the war must not lead to a long-term Israeli occupation of the territory.
Israel launched a massive military offensive that has left much of the besieged territory in ruins. The health ministry in the Gaza Strip says the war has killed more than 18,700 people, mostly women and children.
Late on Thursday in the southern city of Rafah near the Egyptian border, crowds of Palestinians used flashlights to search under the rubble of buildings for survivors following an Israeli strike.
"This is a residential neighbourhood, women and children live here, as you can see," said resident Abu Omar. "Three missiles on a residential neighbourhood that has nothing to do with any groups activities."
Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari said troops were engaged in fighting in two districts of Gaza City late on Thursday. "There will be more tough battles in the days to come," he said.
The Israeli army said on Friday that 117 troops had died in Gaza since the start of the ground offensive. The United States has strongly backed its response to the attacks, but has voiced increasing concern over civilian casualties and the long-term plan for Gaza.
"We do not believe that it makes sense for Israel, or is right for Israel, to reoccupy Gaza over the long term," US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on Friday after meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant in Tel Aviv.
Gallant warned that Israel's fight "will require a period of time -- it will last more than several months".
Netanyahu vowed to carry on "until victory", and Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said the war would continue "with or without international support". Sullivan headed to the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Friday for talks with its Palestinian Authority (PA) leaders.
The West Bank has seen a surge in violence since October 7. There, the Palestinian health ministry said 11 people had been killed since the Israeli military launched a raid in the city of Jenin and its refugee camp earlier this week.
This week, the United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly supported a non-binding resolution for a ceasefire in Gaza, with Washington voting against it.
The UN estimates 1.9 million of Gaza's 2.4 million people have been displaced, and the head of its agency for Palestinian refugees, Philippe Lazzarini, warned of a "breakdown of civil order".
"Everywhere you go, people are desperate, hungry and terrified," said Lazzarini, who recently returned from Gaza. — AFP
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