Israel’s campaign in southern Gaza will last for months, says defence minister

Israel bombarded towns across southern Gaza on Tuesday with airstrikes, killing at least 45 Palestinians and pressing ahead with its offensive with renewed backing from the US

Palestinians search for bodies and survivors in the rubble of a residential building destroyed in an Israeli airstrike, in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)

The Israeli army has raided and detained staff at two of the last functioning hospitals in Gaza’s north, where the defence minister said that troops were working to completely clear out Hamas militants.

The raids came as the Israeli defence minister, Yoav Gallant, warned the campaign in Gaza’s south will persist for months.