Fresh Israeli air and ground assaults in the Gaza Strip claimed multiple lives on Wednesday, Palestinian outlets reported, as the offensive in Gaza City continued.

According to the WAFA news agency, at least 17 people were killed in the morning raids, among them seven residents of Gaza City. One of the casualties was said to be a pregnant woman.

The Israeli military confirmed it had targeted more than 150 locations in Gaza City within the last 48 hours, striking what it described as “terrorists and military infrastructure.” Israeli forces have been intensifying their ground operations in the area since late Monday.

The casualty figures and details provided by WAFA could not be independently verified.

Meanwhile, a United Nations Human Rights Council commission of inquiry on Tuesday accused Israel of committing acts of genocide in Gaza. The three-member panel stated that four out of the five genocidal acts outlined in the 1948 UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide had been carried out since the Hamas-led assault on Oct. 7, 2023.

Israel rejected UN’s findings, dismissing them as baseless, and instead charged Hamas with genocide for the October 7 attacks.