Escalating Conflict in Gaza: Casualties and Humanitarian Crisis
The ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip has resulted in significant casualties on both sides. The Israeli army reported that an officer and a soldier were killed, and three other soldiers were wounded in two separate attacks in the northern Gaza Strip last night. The resistance forces, including the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, carried out multiple operations targeting the Israeli occupation forces. In one incident, the Al-Qassam Brigades ambushed an Israeli force in the Shujaiya neighborhood, resulting in several casualties.
Humanitarian Crisis Worsens in Gaza
The humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate rapidly. According to medical sources, 45 people have been killed due to ongoing Israeli bombings across the Gaza Strip. In one tragic incident, a bombing targeted the home of Palestinian journalist Muhammad Al-Kuwaifi, resulting in the death of his wife and three children. Thousands of Palestinians are fleeing from areas like Khan Yunis to safer regions, despite the lack of any truly safe locations within Gaza. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) reported that 250,000 people have been forced to flee from Khan Yunis alone.
International Reactions and Military Statements
The UN humanitarian coordinator for Gaza, Sigrid Kaag, expressed deep concern over the displacement crisis, noting that 1.9 million people are now displaced across Gaza. Meanwhile, the Israeli Chief of Staff, Major General Hartzi Halevi, emphasized the Israeli army's ongoing efforts to dismantle terrorist infrastructure in the region. The Chief of Staff reported that over 900 terrorists, including many commanders, have been killed in the Rafah Brigade. He stated that the campaign is long and focused on exhausting the terrorist infrastructure while maintaining Israeli determination.
- In addition to the casualties reported, the Israeli army's operations have included airstrikes targeting militants and infrastructure in the central Gaza Strip and the Rafah area. The Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Jihad Movement, claimed responsibility for bombing a tank and a military bulldozer in Rafah, further escalating the conflict.
- The humanitarian crisis is compounded by severe shortages of food and water, particularly in Jabalia, where the occupation has prevented the entry of humanitarian aid. Residents are also dealing with the accumulation of waste, adding to the health risks in the area.
- The situation is also tense within Israel, where a stabbing attack at an outdoor mall in Karmiel resulted in the death of Sergeant Alexander Yakiminski and serious injury to another soldier. The suspected terrorist, an Israeli Arab resident, was neutralized at the scene, and his family members have been detained by the police.
