Strikes across Gaza kill at least 92 as Israel prepares to ramp up its offensive
Deir al-Balah, May 7 (AP): Israeli strikes across Gaza killed at least 92 people, including women, children and two journalists, officials said Wednesday, as Israel prepares to ramp up its campaign in the strip, with the devastating war now entering its 20th month.
Two Israeli airstrikes on Wednesday targeted an area in central Gaza, killing at least 33 people and wounding 86, including several children, though the actual death toll is likely higher, according to health officials.
The Israeli military had no immediate comment on the strikes.
The new bloodshed comes days after Israel approved a plan to intensify its operations in the Palestinian enclave, which would include seizing Gaza, holding on to captured territories, forcibly displacing Palestinians to southern Gaza and taking control of aid distribution along with private security companies.
Israel is also calling up tens of thousands of reserve soldiers to carry out the plan. Israel says the plan will be gradual and will not be implemented until after U.S. President Donald Trump wraps up his visit to the region later this month.
Any escalation of fighting would likely drive up the death toll. And with Israel already controlling some 50% of Gaza, increasing its hold on the territory, for an indefinite amount of time, could open up the potential for a military occupation, which would raise questions about how Israel plans to have the territory governed, especially at a time when it is considering how to implement Trump's vision to take over Gaza.
The Israeli offensive has so far killed more than 52,000 people in Gaza, many of them women and children, according to Palestinian health officials who do not distinguish between combatants and civilians.
Israel blames Hamas for the death toll, saying it operates from civilian infrastructure, including schools.
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Social media influencer arrested for sexual assault of multiple women in Kerala
Thrissur (Kerala) (PTI): A social media influencer was arrested here on Friday for "sexually assaulting" multiple women after befriending them through Instagram, police said.
The accused has been identified as Yadu Girish (38), a native of Thannyam in Thrissur district.
According to police, Girish was active on Instagram and operated multiple accounts.
The investigation began after a woman lodged a complaint alleging sexual assault by him, officials said.
During the probe, police received complaints from two more women who alleged that Girish sexually assaulted them after befriending them on Instagram and promising to marry them.
After taking him into custody, police found that more women may have been targeted by the accused, and further investigation is underway, they said.
Multiple cases have been registered against Girish under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act.
The cases are being investigated by a team under the Thrissur District Crime Branch Assistant Commissioner of Police, officials added.
