In a tragic turn of events, over 85 Palestinians have lost their lives due to overnight Israeli air strikes in Gaza, as reported by the Hamas-run health ministry. This incident underscores the ongoing conflict, which has intensified following the resumption of Israeli military operations in the region. The air strikes come in the wake of a brief period of calm, with Israel's military confirming that they intercepted three rockets launched by Hamas's armed wing targeting Tel Aviv.
This week, Israel has resumed its bombing campaign and ground operations in Gaza, resulting in over 430 deaths in just two days, according to the health ministry. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) disclosed on Thursday that they had initiated a ground operation in northern Gaza, marking a significant escalation in military activity since a ceasefire was established in January. In addition to the fatalities, reports indicate that 133 individuals were injured in the latest attacks on Thursday alone.
Israel's military actions are reportedly aimed at pressuring Hamas to release the hostages it is believed to be holding. Currently, Israel claims that Hamas is retaining 59 hostages, with 24 of them thought to still be alive. IDF spokesperson Col Avichay Adraee confirmed that Hamas had launched three rockets from southern Gaza, noting that one was intercepted while the other two landed in open areas.
On Thursday, the Israeli military began targeted ground operations designed to establish a partial buffer between northern and southern Gaza, which they are referring to as a limited ground operation. Col Adraee stated that IDF forces have advanced into the Netzarim Corridor, a region that separates the two areas of Gaza. Amidst these military operations, five staff members of the UN's Palestinian refugee agency, UNRWA, were reported killed, prompting warnings from the agency's chief Philippe Lazzarini about the worsening humanitarian situation.
The UN has reported casualties among its personnel, with one worker killed and five others injured due to damage sustained at its compound in Deir al-Balah. While Gaza's health ministry attributes the incident to an Israeli strike, the Israeli military denies any involvement. Moreover, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy confirmed that a British national was among the injured in this incident.
In a broader context of regional tensions, Yemen's Houthi rebels have fired a ballistic missile at Israel, targeting Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv. Thankfully, no injuries were reported as the IDF intercepted the missile before it could reach Israeli territory. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that the military will continue operations in full force, asserting that any ceasefire negotiations will now occur under the conditions of ongoing conflict.
Discussions regarding the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas have reached a stalemate, with both sides struggling to agree on terms beyond the initial phase, which expired on March 1. Hamas has proposed to release a living American hostage along with the bodies of four others; however, negotiations have stalled as Israel remains firm on its demands. In a bid to apply pressure on Hamas, Israel blocked all food, fuel, and medical supplies from entering Gaza, accusing Hamas of misusing these resources in its conflict strategy.
The ongoing conflict was ignited by a surprise attack from Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths, primarily among civilians, and 251 individuals taken hostage. In response, Israel launched a massive military offensive that has led to the deaths of more than 48,500 Palestinians, mostly civilians, prior to the recent resumption of its military campaign. This cycle of violence continues to devastate homes and infrastructure in Gaza, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
