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.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Karnataka govt to provide NEET coaching for rural students: Dr Sharanaprakash R. Patil
Bengaluru: The Karnataka government will take special initiatives to provide NEET coaching to students from rural areas, Medical Education, Skill Development and Livelihood Minister Dr Sharanaprakash R. Patil told the Legislative Council on Monday.
According to The New Indian Express, during the Question Hour, Congress MLC Ivan D’Souza raised concerns that the NEET system is depriving rural students of medical education and questioned whether poor students from rural areas can afford the coaching with just Rs 3 lakh provided.
Responding to the issue, Patil said the NEET system has not reduced the number of medical seats in the state, nor has it caused any shortage.
He said that while they had decided to scrap the NEET system, the Supreme Court had ruled in its favour.
The minister assured that the government will introduce various measures to provide more effective NEET coaching to rural students so that they can compete better in the examination.
