GAZA - Israeli forces continue their air and ground offensive in the southern Gaza Strip, resulting in numerous casualties among Palestinians. Despite repeated calls from the United States and the United Nations to prioritize civilian protection, the situation remains grim.
The conflict escalated after a truce between Israel and Hamas collapsed on Friday.
The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, urged Israel to refrain from actions worsening the already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, emphasizing the lack of safe havens for evacuated individuals. Israel's military advances, capturing the northern half of Gaza and making significant inroads into the southern half, have led to fierce clashes with Hamas and its ally, Islamic Jihad.
As the conflict intensifies, the Gaza health ministry reports a substantial death toll, with over 15,899 Palestinians, predominantly women or children, killed in eight weeks of warfare. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees in Gaza expressed concern about the repetition of past horrors, emphasizing the displacement of people and the strain on hospitals amid limited supplies.
The World Health Organization's Director General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, called on Israel to safeguard civilians and vital infrastructure, revealing that the IDF instructed the removal of medical supplies from a warehouse in southern Gaza due to impending ground operations.
Approximately 80% of Gaza's 2.3 million population has already fled their homes during the conflict. Israel's recent directive for Palestinians to evacuate parts of Khan Younis further contributes to the displacement, with residents moving towards the coast and Rafah.
Despite international scrutiny, the U.S. acknowledges Israel's efforts in targeted evacuations but stresses the importance of avoiding strikes in designated "no-strike" zones.
The conflict stems from Israel's retaliation for an October 7 cross-border attack by Hamas, resulting in 1,200 casualties and 240 hostages seized. Talks about the duration of the war between the U.S. and Israel are ongoing, with Israel asserting the need to combat evil while expressing regret for civilian casualties.
The Wall Street Journal reports Israel's development of a pumping system to flood Hamas tunnels, possibly impacting the ongoing hostage situation.
In the West Bank, separate incidents on Tuesday saw Israeli forces killing one Palestinian and critically wounding another. The overall situation underscores the ongoing humanitarian crisis and the complex dynamics fueling the conflict in the region.