The Director General of the Government Media Office in Gaza reported over 700 Palestinians killed in the past 24 hours. The conflict has intensified, with Israeli airstrikes causing widespread destruction and a dire humanitarian crisis.
Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson for the Palestinian Civil Defence in Gaza, said there are dozens of Palestinians killed in every single air strike. Hundreds are also being wounded, he added. Civil Defence faces challenges in rescuing victims, with limited resources.
Basal noted that multiple missiles are often fired at a singular target, leading to increased destruction and casualties.
Hamas has declared that talks regarding a captive-prisoner swap will not resume until the Israeli onslaught in Gaza comes to an end. Israel, in response, withdrew its negotiators from Qatar, accusing Hamas of violating the terms of a truce agreement.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has also weighed in on the crisis. Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan urged both Israel and Hamas to adhere to international law, announcing an intention to intensify investigations into potential war crimes. Khan’s visit to Israel and the occupied West Bank concluded with a stern warning: “All actors must comply with international humanitarian law. If you do not do so, do not complain when my office is required to act.”
The ICC has been investigating possible war crimes and crimes against humanity in the region since 2021, with the current conflict aggravating concerns about the violation of international law. As the crisis unfolds, the international community watches with growing alarm, calling for immediate action to address the humanitarian needs of civilians caught in the crossfire. The coming days will undoubtedly be critical in determining the trajectory of the conflict and its implications for the region.
According to 1.8 million people, constituting roughly 75% of Gaza’s population, are now displaced, up from the previous figure of 1.7 million, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). However, the accurate counting of displaced individuals remains a considerable challenge.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a press conference on Saturday evening, highlighted Israel’s commitment to increasing the ground assault “with increasing force.” Netanyahu claimed that this approach is necessary to achieve Israel’s goal of “eliminating Hamas and releasing the hostages.”
In its heavy ground and air attacks, Israel has so far killed nearly 16,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, since 7 October, and wounded over 20,000.
