The Gaza Strip has witnessed a devastating toll in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, with the territory's Health Ministry reporting over 29,000 Palestinians killed since the conflict's inception. This staggering figure marks a grim milestone in what has become the deadliest round of violence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict's history, news agency AP reported.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made clear his resolve to pursue what he terms "total victory" against Hamas, indicating a possible escalation of the offensive. There are fears that Israeli troops might advance into Rafah, located on the Egyptian border, where a significant portion of Gaza's population has sought refuge amid relentless fighting elsewhere, AP's report stated.
Efforts to broker a ceasefire and secure the release of hostages have encountered hurdles. Despite ongoing mediation by Egypt and Qatar, key allies of Israel, progress has been slow, the report mentioned. Netanyahu's recent call for Qatar to exert pressure on Hamas has strained relations, with Qatar dismissing the remarks as an attempt to prolong the conflict.
According to the Health Ministry, the latest 24-hour period saw 107 fatalities, bringing the total death toll to 29,092 since the war's onset. The ministry's records do not distinguishing between civilians and combatants with approximately two-thirds of those killed being women and children.
The conflict, which erupted when Hamas-led militants launched an incursion into southern Israel in October, has seen over 69,000 Palestinians wounded. The strain on Gaza's healthcare infrastructure is severe, with less than half of the hospitals functioning adequately, as per AP.
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Israel Blames Hamas Over High Civilian Casualties
According to AP's report, Israeli military claims of targeting over 10,000 Palestinian militants remain unsubstantiated. They maintain that Hamas bears responsibility for the high civilian casualties due to its combat operations in densely populated areas. Meanwhile, Hamas insists on the release of all hostages and demands the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza as precondition for any resolution.
As tensions escalate, concerns mount over the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza. Around 80% of Palestinians have been displaced from their homes, with a quarter of the population facing starvation, according to U.N. officials.
In a recent statement, retired general Benny Gantz, a member of Netanyahu's War Cabinet, warned of an expanded offensive if the hostages are not released before the onset of Ramadan. The looming specter of further violence casts a shadow over diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation.