Gaza Death Toll Surpasses 25,000 as Israel Expands Offensive
The death toll in Gaza has exceeded 25,000, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, as Israel intensifies its offensive in the war-torn Palestinian territory. Israel is targeting Hamas in southern Gaza in an effort to dismantle the group responsible for the deadliest attack in the country’s history. Witnesses have reported Israeli boats bombarding Gaza City and other areas in the north, while Hamas reports heavy combat in the same region. The Hamas government’s media office states that many people remain trapped under rubble, unable to be transferred to hospitals due to continued artillery shelling. The Israeli army claims to have eliminated a number of terrorists in Khan Yunis and killed 15 operatives in northern Gaza. Thick plumes of smoke have been seen above Khan Yunis. The October attacks by Hamas resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,140 people, mostly civilians, according to official Israeli figures. The Hamas-run health ministry asserts that Israel’s relentless bombardment and ground offensive have killed at least 25,105 people in Gaza, primarily women and children.
Difficult Conditions in a Tunnel
During the October attacks, operatives took around 250 hostages, with 132 still believed to be in Gaza, and at least 27 captives presumed dead. Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari reported the discovery of a tunnel in Khan Yunis where hostages had been held, pointing to evidence of their presence, including paintings made by a five-year-old captive. Hagari stated that “about 20 hostages” had been held in the tunnel under extremely challenging conditions. Soldiers engaged in a battle with operatives in the tunnel, resulting in the elimination of the terrorists. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing pressure to secure the release of the hostages and address security failings related to the October attacks. Protests demanding the hostages’ release and early elections to remove Netanyahu have taken place across Israel.
Devastation in West Bank
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees reports that 1.7 million people have been displaced in Gaza, with approximately one million crowded into the Rafah area. Urgent aid access is necessary to prevent famine and disease. Diplomatic efforts are underway to secure increased aid deliveries for Gaza and a truce. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh visited Turkey to renew ties with the country after being asked to leave following the October attacks. Meanwhile, violence has escalated in the Israeli-occupied West Bank since October 7. The Israeli military demolished two houses in Hebron belonging to Palestinian gunmen involved in an attack between Jerusalem and Bethlehem. Clashes between Israeli troops and Palestinian fighters have also been reported in various locations. The rising tensions and violence across the Middle East have raised concerns of a broader conflict involving Iran-backed groups in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen. Iranian media has reported that an Israeli strike in Damascus killed the Revolutionary Guards’ spy chief in Syria and four other Guards members, prompting a threat of retaliation.
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