At least 178 people were killed and 589 injured in Gaza on the first day of resumed fighting between Israel and Hamas, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Humanitarian operations in the Strip “largely halted” on Friday, after a week-long pause in fighting allowed increased deliveries of food, water, medical supplies and fuel, the U.N. humanitarian affairs office said. The pause in fighting, which enabled hostages in Gaza to be released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israel, came to an end early Friday. Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, a spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces, said Saturday that the IDF was “preparing for the next stage — southern Gaza.” About 950,000 Gazans are registered at U.N. shelters in the south.
