Israel-Hamas War: Palestinian Death Toll Surpasses 10,000. UN Officials Say 'This Must Stop Now'

Israel Hamas WarAs the Palestinian death toll surpassed 10,000, 18 senior UN officials issued a joint statement urging an "immediate humanitarian ceasefire".

People mourn as they collect the bodies of Palestinians killed in Israeli air raids on November 06, 2023 in Khan Yunis, Gaza.

Source : Getty Images

Israeli forces have isolated northern Gaza from the rest of the besieged territory and launched intense overnight airstrikes, setting the stage for what is expected to be a devastating phase of the month-long conflict. In a grim milestone, the Palestinian death toll surpassed 10,000, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza, which does not differentiate between fighters and civilians, news agency AP reported. The conflict has also claimed the lives of around 1,400 Israelis, primarily civilians.

The ongoing violence constitutes the deadliest round of Israeli-Palestinian conflict in Israel's 75-year history, with no resolution in sight. Israel's objective remains to remove Hamas from power and eliminate its military capabilities.

Israeli media reports suggest that troops are preparing to enter Gaza City, where Palestinian militants, well-prepared over the years, are expected to engage in street-by-street warfare and launch ambushes from an extensive network of tunnels, AP reported

Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, an Israeli military spokesman, stated, "We’re closing in on them. We’ve completed our encirclement, separating Hamas strongholds in the north from the south", as quoted by AP.

'This Must Stop Now': UN Officials Urge Ceasefire In Gaza

Amid the escalating violence and humanitarian crisis, 18 senior United Nations officials, including the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk, World Health Organization head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, and U.N. aid chief Martin Griffiths, issued a joint statement urging an "immediate humanitarian ceasefire", news agency Reuters reported.

"An entire population is besieged and under attack, denied access to the essentials for survival, bombed in their homes, shelters, hospitals, and places of worship. This is unacceptable. We need an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. It's been 30 days. Enough is enough. This must stop now," the statement read, as per Reuters.

Around 70% Of Gaza's Population Displaced

Overnight, the Israeli military struck 450 targets, with ground troops taking control of a Hamas compound. Despite the ongoing military operations, a one-way corridor for residents to flee south remains open for the hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who still remain in Gaza City and the northern areas.

Since the start of the war, approximately 1.5 million Palestinians, constituting around 70% of Gaza's population, have been displaced from their homes, AP's report stated. The situation in Gaza is dire, with dwindling supplies of food, medicine, fuel, and water. U.N.-run schools converted into shelters are overcrowded, forcing many people to sleep on the streets.

The situation is further exacerbated by recurring territory-wide mobile phone and internet service outages, making it increasingly difficult for civilians to seek safety or call for medical assistance.

Despite international calls for a ceasefire and humanitarian aid deliveries, Israel has, thus far, rejected U.S. suggestions for a pause in the fighting. The release of some 240 hostages held by Hamas has also not been agreed upon. Additionally, Israel has dismissed calls for a broader ceasefire from concerned Arab countries, including Jordan and Egypt, which have had peace agreements with Israel for decades.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently concluded a tour of the Middle East aimed at facilitating a humanitarian pause in the conflict and negotiating the release of hostages. However, the diplomatic efforts have yet to yield concrete results, leaving the situation in Gaza precarious.

The ongoing conflict has also inflamed tensions in the region, leading to exchanges of fire between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group along the border. Additionally, a Palestinian man stabbed and wounded two members of Israel's paramilitary Border Police in East Jerusalem, further escalating the already volatile situation, the report stated.

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