Gaza rocked by fierce fighting as 'floating pier' offers hope

Israel's army has ramped up its offensive in Gaza's north, just as aid starts to arrive in the south. 

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have released a statement, saying troops killed 60 militants in the Jabalia refugee camp over the last few days. It says its soldiers were part of a "divisional-level offensive" - an operation that usually involves several brigades, each made up of thousands of troops. 

Residents told Reuters that the IDF was clearing almost everything in its path. "Tanks and planes are wiping out residential districts, markets, shops and restaurants," said Ayman Rajab. 

'We need access by land now'

Meanwhile, the United States military says trucks have started to move aid from a temporary pier in southern Gaza. The U.S. set up the structure after fighting intensified and aid groups struggled to deliver supplies on land. 

A U.S. defense official told Reuters that the pier cost around $320 million to build. The official also said American troops helped assemble it, but did not set foot on Gazan soil. 

The 'floating pier' will offer some relief, allowing nearly 90 trucks to collect much-needed supplies each day. But the United Nations says it's far from ideal. "To stave off the horrors of famine, we must use the fastest and most obvious route to reach the people of Gaza," said deputy U.N. spokesperson, Farhan Haq. "For that, we need access by land now."

Aid trucks were moving across the Egypt-Israel border before Israel launched its offensive on Rafah. They were forced to suspend deliveries when the IDF began its attacks nearly two weeks ago. U.N. humanitarian agency OCHA says nearly 1,580 trucks were stuck in the Egyptian town of Al Arish on Thursday. They were waiting to deliver supplies through the Rafah border post. 

Israeli tanks and warplanes continued their bombardment on Friday. The armed wings of Hamas and Islamic Jihad said they fired anti-tank missiles and mortars at IDF troops who had gathered in the region. 

The fighting in Rafah has sparked another exodus, just months after Gazans were forced to leave the central and northern parts of the region. The U.N.'s aid agency for Palestinians (UNRWA) says the violence forced more than 630,000 people to flee their homes. 

"They're moving to areas where there is no water," says Sam Rose, UNRWA's planning director. "We've got to truck it in. Meanwhile, people aren't getting enough food."

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