Israel has widened its ground offensive in Gaza as its military made an “urgent appeal” to Palestinians living in the north of the territory to evacuate to the south, away from the centre of the fighting.
The call came as international aid groups stepped up their demands for a pause in the fighting, amid increasing alarm at the heavy toll Israel’s bombardment is inflicting on the civilian population of the strip.
In a call with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, US president Joe Biden emphasised the need to “immediately and significantly increase the flow of humanitarian assistance” to civilians in Gaza, the White House said.