The Gaza Health Ministry has reported a grim milestone in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, with the Palestinian death toll now surpassing 8,000 people.
This figure, mostly made up of women and children, marks an unprecedented level of casualties in decades of Israeli-Palestinian violence, according to the Japan Times.
Simultaneously, over 1,400 people on the Israeli side have lost their lives, primarily residents who fell victim to the initial attack, representing another record-breaking statistic in the conflict.
The escalation in violence follows what Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has termed a “second stage” in the war, initiated by Hamas’ brutal incursion on October 7.
The Israeli military said 230 people are being held hostage Israel Hamas War by Hamas. So far, four hostages have been freed.
Two women, Nurit Cooper and Yocheved Lifschitz, were released on October 24 and four days prior on October 20, two US hostages – a mother and daughter – were also freed.
Dr Jessica Genauer, Senior Lecturer in International Relations at Flinders University, said eliminating Hamas militants would not solve the entire problem.
“Whilst physically eliminating Hamas militants and leaders based in Gaza may be achievable, it will not eradicate Hamas as a political entity – given that Hamas’ core leadership and funders are located outside Gaza,” Dr Genauer said.
“This objective is complicated by Hamas militants’ ability to blend into the Gazan civilian population. Even if Hamas is successfully removed from power in Gaza, Gaza’s political future remains uncertain.”
It comes after recent reports that at least 21 journalists have died since the start of the Hamas-Israel war, with the majority occurring during Israel’s attacks on Gaza, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) says.
The deadly war has prompted international calls for the protection of residents, as Israeli tanks and infantry units have moved into the northern part of Gaza.
The Associated Press reports from the ground on Monday described a relentless onslaught of air and artillery strikes, with Israeli troops being backed by tanks during their ground assault.
Areas near Gaza City’s Shifa and al-Quds hospitals have been hit by Israeli airstrikes, sparking concerns about the safety of crucial medical facilities. Additionally, Palestinian militants clashed with Israeli forces in a border area to the east of Khan Younis in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, as reported by Palestinian media.
As of now, both Hamas and the Israeli military have refrained from issuing official comments on the ongoing hostilities. Journalists attempting to confirm reports on the situation have faced significant challenges due to the volatile nature of the conflict.
In a related development, communication services were restored to most of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents on Sunday. This followed an intense Israeli bombardment, which residents described as the most severe of the war, that had knocked out phone and internet services late on Friday.
Despite the dire situation, Israel has only permitted a limited amount of aid to enter the Gaza Strip. On Sunday, 33 trucks carrying water, food, and medicine were allowed through the sole border crossing from Egypt, according to Wael Abo Omar, a spokesperson at the Rafah crossing, as reported by The Associated Press.
The escalating violence in the region continues to draw international concern and calls for an immediate ceasefire to prevent further loss of life and suffering.
