In a tragic turn of events, Israeli strikes on residential areas in the Gaza Strip have reportedly led to the death of at least 178 people in the initial hours following the collapse of a weeklong truce on Friday, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza. Israel, in response, claims to have targeted over 200 Hamas installations. Concurrently, Gaza militants resumed rocket attacks on Israel, while clashes erupted between Israel and Hezbollah forces along the northern border with Lebanon. Ongoing efforts by Qatar seek to reestablish a ceasefire.
The recent violence follows a pause in Israeli military actions, during which 300 Palestinian prisoners were released in exchange for over 100 hostages held by militants. Despite these efforts, 115 men, 20 women, and two children remain in captivity, as stated by Israel.
The weeks of bombardment and ground operations have left over three-quarters of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents homeless, creating a dire humanitarian crisis marked by shortages of essential supplies. The Health Ministry in Gaza reports that over 13,300 Palestinians, with a significant proportion being women and minors, have lost their lives in the conflict. However, the actual toll is feared to be higher.
Concerns about the protection of Palestinian civilians have been raised, with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken urging Israeli officials to take more significant steps in this regard. The response from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to these appeals remains uncertain. In reaction to U.S. calls, the Israeli military has released an online map dividing the Gaza Strip into numerous numbered parcels, advising residents to learn their location for potential evacuations. However, the map lacks designated safe areas, raising questions about its practicality and accessibility for Palestinians.
