Israel intensifies southern Gaza offensive as UN warns 'no place is safe'

Israeli forces pressed ahead with their air and ground bombardment of the southern Gaza Strip on Tuesday (Dec 5).

Israeli forces pressed ahead with their air and ground bombardment of the southern Gaza Strip on Tuesday (Dec 5), expanding their offensive deeper into the besieged territory even as the United States and the United Nations repeatedly urged them to protect civilians.

The United States, Israel's closest ally, has said the Israeli offensive in the south should not repeat the "massive" civilian toll it has had in the north.

But residents and journalists on the ground said the intense Israeli air strikes in the south of the densely populated coastal enclave included areas where Israel had told people to seek shelter.

At the United Nations, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appealed to Israel to avoid further action that would make the already dire humanitarian situation in Hamas-run Gaza worse, and to spare civilians from more suffering.