Israel Escalates Gaza Offensive as UN Aid Vote Approaches

Israeli forces have expanded their ground offensive into central Gaza as the UN Security Council prepares to vote on a resolution to increase humanitarian aid. Talks in Egypt have yet to find common ground on a humanitarian ceasefire, but progress has been made on speeding up aid deliveries. The death toll in Gaza continues to rise, with over 20,000 Palestinians killed and 53,320 wounded since the conflict began. The Israeli government aims to eradicate Hamas, the group that runs Gaza, but the high civilian casualties have drawn international criticism. The war in Gaza has also fueled tensions in other regional areas, including the occupied West Bank and Israel's northern border with Lebanon.