Israel-Hamas Conflict: Hundreds of Palestinians Dead as Fighting Intensifies
The Israel-Hamas conflict has escalated, with Israel battling Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip’s biggest cities. The ongoing violence has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Palestinians, leaving almost 2 million displaced Gazans struggling to find safe refuge amid critical shortages of food and shelter.
Fierce battles have been reported east of Khan Younis, southern Gaza’s largest city, where three Gazans were killed in an Israeli air strike on a house in Deir Al-Balah in central Gaza. Israel has claimed that its forces killed a number of gunmen in Khan Younis, including two who emerged firing from a tunnel.
Israeli TV footage showed what it claimed were captured Hamas fighters, stripped to their underwear with heads bowed, sitting in a Gaza City street. However, some Palestinians recognized their relatives in the picture and denied any links to Hamas or any other group. The situation remains tense as Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari stated that soldiers are fighting against militants in Hamas “centers of gravity.” He added that those who stay in the area are investigated and checked for links to Hamas.
As the violence continues, Gazans have sought refuge in Rafah on the southern border with Egypt, heeding Israeli messages that they would be safe in the city. However, more than 20 people were killed in apartments there late on Wednesday. Eyad Al-Hobi, a relative of some of those killed, stated that all apartments in the building suffered serious damage.
In a new phase of the war, Israeli troops reached the heart of Khan Younis on Wednesday, resulting in three more deaths. The situation at Nasser hospital is dire, with even the floor space inside full. Doctor Mohamed Matar described the injuries as severe and stated that they cannot treat the injured in this state.
Those who manage to escape the violence face an increasingly desperate struggle to survive. Ibrahim Mahram, who fled to Al Mawasi, stated that five families are sharing a tent in the former Bedouin village, which lacks shelter, food, and other necessities. The UN Palestinian Refugee Agency (UNRWA) reported that 1.9 million people, 85 percent of Gaza’s population, have been displaced, and its shelters are four times over capacity.
Pressure is growing in the south of the enclave near Egypt, according to UN refugee chief Filippo Grandi. He stated that people are piling up in the little sliver of land between Khan Younis and the Rafah border. The Gaza health ministry reported that 17,177 Palestinians have been killed and 46,000 wounded since October 7 when Israel began bombing Gaza in response to an assault by Hamas militants. In the past 24 hours alone, 350 people have been killed.
Israel maintains that it must wipe out Hamas and is doing everything possible to protect civilians. The Israeli military has raided a Hamas compound in Jabalia, killing several gunmen and discovering tunnels, a training area, and weapons. The armed wing of Hamas claims to have destroyed or damaged 79 army vehicles in Gaza City in the past three days.
The UN has been unable to distribute aid in any part of Gaza except for the area around Rafah for the past four days. Mediators are still exploring opportunities for a truce, but a deal on a humanitarian pause has not been reached. However, there are promising signs that the Kerem Shalom crossing in Israel could soon be opened to allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza.
The conflict has also spilled over into Lebanon, with a guided-missile attack killing a 60-year-old farmer in northern Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that Beirut would be turned “into Gaza” if Hezbollah, a Hamas ally, started an all-out war.
As the violence continues to escalate, it is crucial for international efforts to intensify to bring an end to the conflict and protect the lives of innocent civilians caught in the crossfire.