Israel-Hamas conflict: More than 123,000 displaced in Gaza Strip – UN

More than 123,000 people have been displaced in the Gaza Strip since the outbreak of the conflict between Palestinian militants and Israel, the United Nations said on Monday.

“Over 123,538 people, have been internally displaced in Gaza, mostly due to fear, protection concerns and the destruction of their homes,” said the UN’s humanitarian agency, OCHA.

More than 73,000 are sheltering in schools, OCHA said, some of which have been designated emergency shelters.

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Hamas attacks spark Israel-Gaza conflict

Israel has launched hundreds of strikes on Gaza since Saturday, when Hamas militants launched deadly attacks in Israel and fired thousands of rockets at the country.

Adnan Abu Hasna, a spokesman for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), said he expected the numbers to rise further.

“There’s electricity in these schools, we provide them with a meal, clean water, psychological support and medical treatment,” he said.

Gaza is home to 2.3 million Palestinians, who have lived under a crippling Israeli blockade imposed after Hamas took power in 2007.

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Fighting ongoing around Gaza Strip inside Israel

Fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas Palestinian militants was ongoing on Monday in seven to eight locations around the Gaza Strip inside Israel, the army said.

“We’re still fighting. There are between seven to eight open places around Gaza [where] we have still warriors fighting terrorists,” military spokesman Richard Hecht told reporters, two days after the Palestinian Islamist group launched a surprise attack on Israel.

“We thought by yesterday we would have full control. I hope we will by the end of the day.”

During the night, Israel carried out more than 500 air and artillery strikes targeting Hamas and Islamic Jihad militant groups in the coastal enclave.

— By © Agence France-Presse

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