GAZA CITY: Israel's military kept up its assault on Gaza City and the wider Gaza Strip on Saturday, killing 34 Palestinians, according to Gazan health authorities.
The assault came as 10 countries, including Australia, Belgium, Britain and Canada, are scheduled to formally recognise an independent Palestinian state on Monday, ahead of the annual leaders' gathering at the UN General Assembly.
Israel's intensified military demolition campaign targeting high-rise buildings in Gaza City began last week alongside a ground assault.
Its forces, which control Gaza City's eastern suburbs, have in recent days been pounding the Sheikh Radwan and Tel Al-Hawa areas from where they would be positioned to advance on central and western parts of the city, where most of the population is sheltering.
The military estimates it has demolished up to 20 Gaza City tower blocks over the past two weeks and believes some 350,000 people have left Gaza City since the start of September. Another 600,000 or so remain, however.
Hamas' military wing released an image of the captives on messaging site Telegram earlier on Saturday, warning that their lives were at risk due to Israel's military operation in Gaza City.
In almost two years of fighting, Israel's offensive has killed more than 65,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities, spread famine, demolished most structures and displaced most of the population, in many cases multiple times. SEE ALSO P6
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