Israel conducts airstrikes on Gaza following Hamas’ threat that no hostages will survive.
Israel conducted airstrikes on the primary city in southern Gaza on Monday following a warning from Hamas that no Israeli hostages would be allowed to leave the area alive unless their demands for the release of prisoners were met. The conflict was initiated by Hamas with the deadliest attack on Israel on October 7, resulting in 1,200 casualties and around 240 hostages taken to Gaza.
In response, Israel launched a military offensive, causing significant destruction in Gaza and resulting in the death of at least 17,997 people, predominantly women and children, according to the health ministry run by Hamas.
Israeli airstrikes targeted Khan Yunis on Monday, as reported by an AFP correspondent, while the militant group Islamic Jihad claimed to have destroyed a house where Israeli soldiers were searching for a tunnel. The Israeli army noted rocket attacks from Gaza into Israel on Monday, with intense clashes reported around Gaza City and Khan Yunis on Sunday.
On Sunday, Hamas issued a warning that Israel would not see the release of their prisoners unless there was an exchange, negotiation, and fulfillment of the resistance’s demands. Israel claims 137 hostages in Gaza, while activists estimate around 7,000 Palestinians are held in Israeli jails.
The prolonged conflict has severely strained Gaza’s health system, with most hospitals non-functional and nearly two million people displaced. The UN estimates that 1.9 million out of Gaza’s 2.4 million residents have been displaced, with about half being children. Israel’s call for people to seek refuge in the south has faced challenges as the conflict expanded to include southern targets.
Humanitarian organizations continue to urge Israel to enhance civilian protection. The UN humanitarian coordinator for the Palestinian territories criticized Israel’s mapping software meant to reduce non-combatant deaths as inadequate. Gaza’s health system is described as on the verge of collapse, with immediate, unimpeded aid deliveries urgently needed.
Israel’s army chief, Herzi Halevi, announced the use of significant force in Gaza, citing notable achievements in the war. The military reported striking over 250 targets in 24 hours, including a Hamas military communications site, underground tunnel shafts, and a Hamas military command center in Shejaiya, Gaza City. Israel reported 98 soldiers killed and around 600 wounded in the conflict, with approximately 7,000 “terrorists” killed.
The UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, expressed concern about the Security Council’s undermined authority and credibility after the US blocked a ceasefire resolution. Despite efforts for a new truce by Qatar, where Hamas’s leadership is based, Israel’s ongoing bombardment is seen as narrowing the window for success. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken rejected a ceasefire but acknowledged the human toll of the conflict.
There are fears of regional escalation, with cross-border exchanges between Israel and Lebanese militants, strikes near Damascus, and threats from Yemen’s Huthi rebels to attack vessels heading to Israel unless more aid is allowed into Gaza. France reported one of its frigates in the Red Sea shooting down two drones launched from Yemen.
