Next phase of Gaza war risks unprecedented humanitarian crisis

It is far from clear how Israel can attack south of territory without making dire situation even worse

• Israel-Hamas war – live updates

While talks continued over extending the truce in Gaza, the Israeli Defence Forces have continued to prepare for a resumption of hostilities within days – which risks provoking an unprecedented humanitarian crisis among an already desperate population.

Israel remains determined to take control of the southern part of the strip, and in particular Khan Younis, where it believes Hamas’s leader, Yahwa Sinwar, is based, in pursuit of the overall goal of destroying the group’s military and political capacity.