CAIRO/GAZA-Israeli forces and Hamas militants engaged in intense street battles in Gaza's second-largest city on Wednesday, while the United Nations postponed a vote on a resolution aimed at increasing aid to the Palestinian enclave, which is grappling with a humanitarian crisis. The conflict, sparked by Israel's efforts to eliminate Hamas militants following an October 7 massacre, has left Gaza in ruins, causing widespread hunger, homelessness, and a reported death toll of nearly 20,000 Gazans.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted that the military campaign will persist until Iran-backed Hamas releases the remaining 129 hostages in Gaza and the group is eradicated. The United Nations Security Council, set to vote on aid deliveries, faced a one-day delay as discussions continued to avoid a potential U.S. veto. The resolution, initially drafted by the United Arab Emirates, has been repeatedly postponed due to challenges in reaching an agreement on language addressing a cessation of hostilities and the establishment of U.N. aid monitoring.
The conflict's impact has extended beyond Gaza, with Houthi forces in Yemen attacking commercial vessels in the Red Sea, leading to the creation of a multinational naval operation to safeguard trade routes. The U.S. Defense Secretary announced joint naval patrols in the southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, crucial global shipping routes.
In Gaza, residents reported escalating gun battles between Hamas fighters and Israeli forces in Khan Younis, resulting in casualties. The Al Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement, released a video featuring two male Israeli hostages. The Gaza health ministry reported a death toll of 19,667 Palestinians and 52,586 wounded, with over 60% of Gaza's infrastructure destroyed or damaged.
Despite diplomatic efforts to reach a ceasefire and facilitate aid delivery, the situation remains dire. Israeli President Isaac Herzog expressed readiness for another foreign-mediated "humanitarian pause," but Hamas ruled out further negotiations on a prisoner exchange while the conflict persisted. Talks in Warsaw involving Qatar's prime minister and the heads of U.S. and Israeli intelligence aimed at reviving negotiations yielded positive discussions but no imminent deal. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to deepen amid ongoing hostilities.