Gaza civil defence says ‘Israeli’ fire kills 36

Gaza's civil defence agency said ‘Israeli’ attacks killed at least 36 people on Saturday, warning that intensifying strikes on a Gaza City neighbourhood were placing its remaining residents in mortal danger.

Civil defence spokesman Mahmoud Bassal said conditions in the Zeitun neighbourhood were rapidly deteriorating with residents having little to no access to food and water amid heavy ‘Israeli’ bombardment.

He said that about 50,000 people were estimated to be in that area of Gaza City, "the majority of whom are without food or water" and lacking "the basic necessities of life".

In recent days, Gaza City residents reported more frequent air strikes targeting residential areas, including Zeitun, while earlier this week Hamas denounced aggressive ‘Israeli’ ground incursions.

To Bassal, ‘Israel’ was carrying out "ethnic cleansing" in Zeitun.

‘Israeli’ officials have dismissed similar accusations before, and the military insists it abides by international law.

The military is "committed to mitigating civilian harm during operational activity, in strict accordance with international law," it claimed in a statement.

Earlier this month, the ‘Israeli’ government approved plans to seize Gaza City, one of the most densely populated parts of the territory, which has been devastated by more than 22 months of war.

On Friday, the ‘Israeli’ military said its troops were operating in Zeitun.

Later Saturday, Hamas said in a statement that Israeli forces had been carrying out a "sustained offensive in the eastern and southern neighbourhoods of Gaza City, particularly in Zeitun".

The group said the military was targeting the area with warplanes, artillery and drones.

The ‘Israeli’ plan to expand the war has sparked an international outcry as well as domestic opposition.

UN-backed experts have warned of widespread famine unfolding in the territory, where ‘Israel’ has drastically curtailed the amount of humanitarian aid it allows in.

According to the civil defence agency, at least 13 of the Palestinians killed on Saturday were shot by troops as they were waiting to collect food aid near distribution sites in the north and in the south.