Over 8,000 Fatalities in Gaza as Israeli Forces Intensify Ground Operations

Amid increasing desperation three weeks into the Israel-Hamas conflict, a United Nations agency reported that people in Gaza have resorted to looting aid warehouses for essential items like flour and hygiene products.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared a “second phase” of the military operations, which were initially triggered by a violent Hamas incursion into Israel on October 7. Israel has been launching extensive airstrikes and artillery fire on Gaza, in addition to a ground offensive involving tanks and infantry.

The Health Ministry of Gaza disclosed that the Palestinian death toll has exceeded 8,000—primarily women and children. This number sets a new grim record in the history of Israeli-Palestinian hostilities. The Israeli side has also seen substantial loss of life, with more than 1,400 individuals, largely civilians, perishing during the early stages of the conflict initiated by Hamas.

On Sunday, communications were restored in most of Gaza after extreme bombardments had disrupted the enclave’s 2.3 million inhabitants’ connectivity with the outside world since late Friday.

Additional Developments

Karim Khan, the lead prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, paid a visit to the Rafah border, Gaza’s lone entry point to Egypt, on Saturday. He was informed about the destruction inflicted by Israeli airstrikes, according to an unnamed senior Egyptian official. Khan’s office has initiated an inquiry into possible war crimes by Israel in Gaza related to the 2014 conflict.

Israeli defense forces have disclosed that over 450 militant installations were targeted during the last 24 hours. These included Hamas command structures and positions used to launch anti-tank missiles. Ground forces also eliminated multiple Hamas combatants who were emerging from a tunnel close to the Erez crossing, once the primary footpath into Israel prior to its destruction in the current conflict.

In an alarming development signifying the deterioration of civil order, Thomas White, the Gaza director for the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), stated, “People are scared, frustrated and desperate.” UNRWA has been providing essential services to Gaza’s population, transforming its schools into shelters for Palestinians displaced by the conflict.

Israeli Humanitarian Efforts and Medical Concerns

Israeli authorities have indicated that an increase in humanitarian aid to Gaza is imminent, although specifics remain vague. Elad Goren, head of civil affairs of COGAT, the Israeli defense agency overseeing Palestinian civilian matters, mentioned the establishment of a “humanitarian zone” in southern Gaza, near the city of Khan Younis, without divulging further details.

Residents near Gaza’s largest medical facility, Shifa Hospital, have reported that Israeli airstrikes have complicated access to the hospital. Accusations that Hamas maintains a hidden command center below the hospital have been denied by the group.

U.S. Stance

Jake Sullivan, the U.S. National Security Adviser, emphasized the need to protect civilians but refrained from commenting on Israel’s intensified military actions. President Joe Biden is slated to discuss the situation with Netanyahu later in the day.

Ongoing Hostilities

Despite the severity of the conflict, rocket attacks from Palestinian militants into Israel continue. The Israeli military asserts that its strikes aim to neutralize Hamas personnel and infrastructure, arguing that the group operates amidst civilian populations, thus putting them at risk. Approximately 1.4 million people in Gaza have been displaced, many seeking refuge in UN-run schools and shelters.

Infrastructure and Health Services in Gaza

The conflict has caused Gaza’s sole power plant to cease operations. Hospitals are facing challenges in maintaining life-support systems, and UNRWA is attempting to keep essential services like water pumps and bakeries operational.

At Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, emergency director Dr. Mohammed Qandeel mentioned that around 20,000 civilians are taking shelter there. “I used to be afraid of my kids playing in the sand. Now their hands are dirty with the blood on the floor,” said a displaced resident identified as Umm Ahmad.

Contributors

Reporting was contributed by Magdy from Cairo, along with AP writers Julia Frankel and Amy Teibel in Jerusalem.

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