South Gaza bombarded as humanitarian crisis reaches 'breaking point'

At least 193 Palestinians killed since Dec as Israel, Hamas trade blame for collapse of 7-day truce

GAZA - Israeli air strikes and artillery bombarded Khan Younis in the south of the Gaza Strip on Dec 2, hitting mosques and homes and close to a hospital, after the collapse of a truce in the nearly twomonth-old war between Israel and Hamas militants.

The Gaza health ministry said at least 193 Palestinians had been killed and 650 wounded since the truce ended on Dec 1 morning adding to the more than 15,000 Palestinian dead since the start of the war.

The head of the International Red Cross said the renewed fighting was intense.

"It's a new layer of destruction coming on top of massive, unparalleled destruction of critical infrastructure, of civilian houses and Mr Robert Marneighbourhoods," dini told Reuters in Dubai.

With conditions inside the Hamas-ruled enclave reaching "breaking point", in Mr Mardini's words, the first aid trucks since the end of the truce entered Gaza through the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing on Dec 2, Egyptian security and Red Crescent sources told Reuters.

The warring sides blamed each other for the collapse of the sevenday truce, during which Hamas had released hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.

The southern part of Gaza was taking a pounding on Dec 2. Residents said houses and open areas had been hit, and three mosques destroyed in Khan Younis. Columns of smoke rose into the sky.

In Deir Al-Balah city in the central Gaza Strip, nine Palestinians, including children, were killed in an air strike, health officials said.