Israel Revises Down Death Toll of Hamas Attacks in Gaza Strip
Israel has revised down the death toll of last month’s Hamas attacks in the Gaza Strip to about 1,200, as it continues its assault on the region despite calls for a halt to the bombing of civilians. Palestinians have reported deadly strikes and sniper fire at hospitals and schools, while the Israeli army has accused Hamas of using hospitals as command centers and hideouts. The director of Al-Shifa hospital and the Hamas government have blamed Israeli forces for a strike on the institution that killed 13 people. The bodies of another 50 people killed in a strike on Al-Buraq school were taken to the hospital. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society has also reported that Israeli snipers shot at Al-Quds hospital, killing at least one person.
Israel launched an offensive in Gaza after Hamas fighters crossed the border on October 7, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 people and the taking of 239 hostages, according to Israeli officials. However, Israel has revised this estimate down from over 1,400 dead. Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas and has launched an air and ground campaign that the Hamas health ministry says has killed more than 11,000 people, mostly civilians and many of them children. The head of the World Health Organization has stated that the Gazan health system is “on its knees” and the International Committee of the Red Cross has said it is “running on thin supplies” and is increasingly unsafe.
In Israel, two women were wounded in rocket attacks in Tel Aviv. Hamas’s military wing claimed responsibility for targeting the Israeli commercial hub. The war in Gaza has prompted repeated calls for a ceasefire to protect civilian lives and allow more humanitarian aid into the region. Tens of thousands of people have fled to the south of the territory, often on foot and taking only what they can carry. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees estimates that almost 1.6 million people have been internally displaced since October 7, which is nearly two-thirds of Gaza’s population. However, tens of thousands of civilians remain in the fiercest battle zones in the north.
The United Nations has called for an end to the “carnage” in Gaza, stating that “razing entire neighborhoods to the ground is not an answer for the egregious crimes committed by Hamas.” French President Emmanuel Macron has also urged Israel to halt the bombing of Gaza civilians, stating that there is “no justification” and that the deaths are causing “resentment” across the Middle East. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected halting the fighting, stating that a ceasefire with Hamas means surrender to terror. He also emphasized that Israel does not seek to govern Gaza in the long run but wants to give it and themselves a better future.
Complicating Israel’s military push is the fate of the hostages abducted on October 7. CIA director Bill Burns and head of Israel’s Mossad spy agency, David Barnea, were in Doha for talks on pauses in fighting, hostage releases, and more aid for Gaza. So far, four hostages have been freed by Hamas, and another was rescued in an Israeli operation. The conflict has also increased regional tensions, with cross-border exchanges between the Israeli army and Lebanon’s Hezbollah. Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels claim to have launched “ballistic missiles” at southern Israel. Iran’s Foreign Minister has stated that the expansion of the Israel-Hamas war has become “inevitable.” Saudi Arabia is hosting emergency meetings of the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation this weekend.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has concluded a diplomatic push, stating that Israel’s pauses in its Gaza offensive will “save lives,” but more aid needs to reach civilians in Gaza. He reiterated US support for Israel but emphasized the importance of providing assistance to the people of Gaza.
In conclusion, the conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip continues to escalate, with a revised down death toll of about 1,200. Calls for a ceasefire and humanitarian aid persist, but both sides remain steadfast in their positions. The situation remains dire for civilians in Gaza, with the health system on the verge of collapse and thousands of people displaced. The international community, including the United Nations and France, has called for an end to the violence and urged Israel to halt the bombing of civilians. The fate of the hostages abducted during the conflict adds another layer of complexity to the situation. As tensions rise in the region, diplomatic efforts are ongoing to find a resolution and provide much-needed aid to those affected by the conflict.