Israeli attacks kill 14 people in Gaza, as some states prepare to recognise Palestinian state

At least 14 people weeks killed as a result of Israeli night air strikes in the town of Gaza, health officials said on Saturday.

Israel has added to the attacks at a time when Western countries are increasingly showing disappointment over the escalation of war in Gaza, some of which aim to recognise the Palestinian state at gathering world leaders at the UN General Assembly next week.

On Friday, Portugal's Foreign Ministry said it would recognise the Palestinian state on Sunday.

Portugal is among several other Western countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Malta, Belgium and Luxembourg, which are expected to recognise the Palestinian state in the coming days.

The most recent Israeli operation, which began this week, further escalates the conflict that has plagued the Middle East and probably further postpones the possibility of a ceasefire.

The Israeli Army, which says it aims to destroy Hamas' “military infrastructure”, has not provided a deadline for offensive, but there are indications it could last for months.

Hamas is the Palestinian group declared terrorist organisation by the United States and the European Union.

Israeli bombings over the past 23 months have killed over 65,000 Palestinians in Gaza, destroyed large parts of the country, displaced about 90 percent of the population, and caused catastrophic humanitarian crisis.

Experts say Gaza City is experiencing famine in the country.

Rami Mhanna, head of the Schiffa hospital, where some of the bodies were brought in, said six people from the same family were among the victims after an attack hit their home early Saturday morning. They were relatives of hospital director Mohammed Abu Selmiya, he added.

The Palestinian Red Cross said five other people were killed in another attack near Square Shava.

In recent days, Israel has called on hundreds of thousands of Palestinians living in Gaza City to move south to what it calls a humanitarian zone.

The Palestinians are starting to leave town, some by car, others on foot, writes REL, broadcast Periscope.

Israel opened another corridor south of the city for two days this week to allow more people to evacuate. But many Palestinians in the hungry city do not want to move back, are too weak to move or have no financial opportunity to move.

Humanitarian organisations have warned that forcing thousands of people to evacuate will further exacerbate the serious humanitarian crisis.

They call for a truce so that help can reach those in need.

The Gaza War began on October 7, 2023, following the Hamas - led attack in southern Israel, where militants killed about 1,200 people and kidnapped another 251, according to Israeli officials. /Periscope