In a heavily intense conflict marked by extreme violence and a distressing humanitarian situation, the Israeli occupation army reported 16 soldiers were injured in the past 24 hours. This happened as the Rafah crossing's departures hall was set ablaze, and various Gaza Strip areas faced relentless bombing during Eid al-Adha's second day. The ongoing hostilities have resulted in 3,848 injured soldiers, with 662 deaths and significant casualties from October 7th's outbreak. Notably, 241 soldiers remain under treatment, with 28 in serious condition.
Al Jazeera reported an intensification in ground activities as occupation forces entered Rafah, accompanied by artillery shelling. A number of Palestinians were either martyred or injured in airstrikes targeting Khirbet Al-Adas, north of Rafah, and in the Saudi neighborhood. Another Israeli raid in the Zarqa neighborhood claimed two lives and injured 13 people. This is part of a broader bombing campaign which included artillery shelling of Al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City and Al-Mughraqa in the central Strip.
In the midst of the turmoil, the Bureij camp in central Gaza faced an airstrike, resulting in nine Palestinians' deaths, including six children. The attack inflicted serious damage on nearby residential complexes. Additionally, the Israeli forces torched the departure hall and several facilities at the Rafah land crossing, under their control since May 7.
On Eid al-Adha's first day, the Israeli army launched a barrage of artillery and airstrikes across the Gaza Strip, exacerbating the crisis and causing numerous civilian casualties, including children and women. Since October 7, Israel's war on Gaza has left over 122,000 Palestinians dead or injured, with more than 10,000 missing amidst large-scale destruction and humanitarian catastrophe.
In a tragic incident on Saturday, eight Israeli soldiers were killed in an explosion near Rafah. The soldiers were in an armored vehicle that encountered a 'substantial' bomb explosion, complicating the identification of the bodies. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu extended condolences to the bereaved families and reaffirmed the war's objectives—eradicating Hamas's military and governing structures and freeing hostages.
Reacting to the ongoing violence and substantial loss, demonstrations erupted in Tel Aviv against Netanyahu's government. Demonstrators like Graciela Barchilon expressed their collective grief and called for new elections as they coped with the profound national loss.
- The war since October 7th continues to strain international relations, as Israel disregards UN Security Council resolutions and orders from the International Court of Justice to halt the offensive and address the dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza. The 18-year blockade by Israel on Gaza has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, leading to severe shortages in essential supplies for about 2.3 million residents.
- In one of the deadliest days for the Israeli army since October 27, eight soldiers lost their lives, underscoring the significant human cost on both sides of the conflict. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains under intense scrutiny domestically and internationally, as the crisis persists with no clear resolution in sight.
- The brutal impact on civilians, especially children, and women, continues to be a grim hallmark of the conflict, drawing sharp criticism from human rights organizations worldwide. The destruction of critical infrastructure, such as the Rafah crossing's departure hall, further compounds the humanitarian emergency in Gaza.
