Overnight airstrikes by Israel hit the central Gaza Strip and the southern city of Rafah, resulting in nearly two dozen casualties, including women and children. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the military to develop plans to evacuate the population of Rafah before an anticipated Israeli invasion. More than half of Gaza’s 2.3 million people have been displaced towards the border with Egypt due to the ongoing military offensive. This has left many people living in makeshift tent camps or overcrowded U.N.-run shelters.
These developments followed U.S. President Joe Biden’s statement that he regards Israel’s actions in the conflict as excessive.
The Gaza Health Ministry reported that the death toll has exceeded 27,840, with a significant number of residents facing starvation. The conflict began with an incursion by Hamas into Israel on Oct. 7, resulting in the deaths of around 1,200 people, the majority of them civilians, and the abduction of approximately 250 individuals. Hamas currently holds more than 130 hostages, with around 30 of them believed to be deceased.
At present:
— Israel and Hamas are at odds over a ceasefire for Gaza and a hostage agreement. What are the main points of contention.
— The families of several Israeli captives do not support an agreement to secure their release. They want Hamas eradicated.
— The U.S. has carried out fresh airstrikes targeting Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
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A 17-year-old boy, identified as Moaz Shamsa, was fatally shot by Israeli soldiers in the West Bank village of Beita, according to Palestinian health officials. The incident is the latest in the volatile region, where Israeli forces have reportedly killed 387 Palestinians since Hamas’ surprise attack on southern Israel in October. Israel has tightened its control over the West Bank cities and towns as part of its crackdown on militants, leading to numerous arrests and fatal shootings.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi refuted claims that he initially opposed allowing aid into Gaza through the Rafah border crossing until U.S. President Joe Biden convinced him otherwise. He emphasized Egypt’s early efforts to open the crossing without restrictions and mobilize humanitarian aid. The initial ban on supplying food, water, and fuel to Gaza by Israel led to the closure of the Rafah crossing, with heavy U.S. pressure ultimately leading to a limited resumption of aid deliveries from Egypt.
Concerns about a potential war crime and violation of international law were raised by independent U.N. human rights experts following an operation by Israeli security forces at a West Bank hospital where three Palestinians were killed. The experts criticized Israel for using lethal force in a situation where it may not have been necessary, emphasizing that killing a defenseless patient in a hospital constitutes a war crime.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he has instructed the military to prepare a plan for evacuating the population of Rafah before the anticipated Israeli invasion. The move comes amid international criticism of Israel’s intentions to invade the densely populated city on the border with Egypt, which is seen as the last strongholds of Hamas.
The president of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Kate Forbes, described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as the most severe she has witnessed in her 43-year career. Forbes stressed the urgent need for increased humanitarian aid to address the dire conditions in the region, where the war has triggered widespread displacement and food shortages.
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society reported that Israeli forces stormed the Al-Amal Hospital in Khan Younis in Gaza, which serves as a shelter for displaced individuals and a medical facility. The raid occurred in the context of the Israeli ground offensive in the area, exacerbating the strain on the already overwhelmed healthcare system in Gaza.
The U.N. children’s agency, UNICEF, highlighted the vulnerability of over 600,000 children in Rafah, urging all parties to exercise restraint to prevent further military escalation in the area. The organization warned that additional conflict in Rafah could result in more casualties, disrupt vital services, and exacerbate the humanitarian crisis.
Israel’s airstrikes in the central Gaza Strip and Rafah resulted in at least 22 casualties, including women and children. The strikes targeted residential buildings and a shelter for displaced people, adding to the growing toll from the conflict. The ongoing military offensive has forced over half of Gaza’s population to flee, heightening concerns about the impact on civilians and civilian infrastructure.
President Joe Biden expressed his view that Israel’s military response in Gaza has been excessive. He emphasized the need for an extended pause in fighting to facilitate the release of remaining hostages and to potentially pave the way for a ceasefire.
