Health officials in Gaza, which is controlled by Hamas, reported on Monday that over 24,000 people have died in the war with Israel. This news has had a significant impact on the region, especially as the fighting has now reached the 100-day mark.
The violence has not been limited to Gaza, as there have been deadly incidents in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and along Israel’s border with Lebanon. Additionally, there has been fighting between US forces and Yemeni rebels backed by Iran in the Red Sea. These events have raised concerns that the conflict could escalate beyond Gaza.
The war was initiated by Palestinian attacks on Israel, and it has resulted in a humanitarian crisis for the 2.4 million people living in the besieged strip. The United Nations and aid groups have warned about the dire situation, with much of the territory being reduced to rubble.
The health ministry in Gaza, which has been under Hamas rule since 2007, reported that there were over 60 deaths and numerous injuries overnight due to intense Israeli bombardment.
The media office of Hamas described the situation as severe, stating that two hospitals, a girls’ school, and dozens of homes were targeted in the overnight attacks.
Hospitals in Gaza have been frequently attacked since the war began, and the World Health Organization (WHO) claims the majority of them are no longer operational.
The Israeli military accuses Hamas fighters of operating from civilian buildings or underground tunnels, which the Islamist organization rejects.
The Hamas media office reported that the new attacks targeted the southern cities of Khan Yunis and Rafah, as well as locations surrounding Gaza City.
The army claimed its soldiers had struck “two terrorists loading weapons into a vehicle” in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza’s biggest city, as well as stormed “a Hamas command centre” and confiscated weaponry.
According to the UN, more than three months of conflict have displaced around 85 percent of the territory’s people, who are now crammed into shelters and trying to obtain food, water, fuel, and medical treatment.
“There is no food, no water, and no warmth. Mohammad Kahil, who was moved from northern Gaza to Rafah on Egypt’s southern border, stated, “We are dying from the cold.”
