In the conflict between Israel and Hamas in southern Gaza, Israeli officials are cautioning that the war could extend well into the new year. The United States has been urging Israel to minimize civilian casualties as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) continue their offensive against Hamas, which has been ongoing since October 7th. The latest airstrike near a hospital in Khan Yunis resulted in the deaths of at least 20 individuals, according to the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health in Gaza. Whilst this death toll has not been independently verified, it is part of a rapidly escalating figure, with the Ministry reporting a total of approximately 21,000 casualties thus far.
The surviving wounded are being rushed to Al-Amal Hospital, one of the few facilities still in operation. However, the overwhelming number of patients has stretched medical personnel thin, and supplies are running perilously low. Trauma patients are suffering as the hospital struggles to provide adequate care. Since October 7th, civilian casualties have skyrocketed, with over 55,000 reported injuries, according to the Hamas Health Ministry.
Tents operated by the Palestinian Red Crescent in Jabalia are brimming with patients, predominantly women and children. The injuries sustained by many are gruesome, resulting in an ever-increasing pile of body bags. The constant explosions in the region are a product of the IDF targeting tunnels used by Hamas fighters, hitting both military and civilian infrastructure.
Israel's objective in Gaza is to dismantle Hamas leadership, but the offensive has yet to show signs of abating. The IDF anticipates a transition to a slower-intensity mobile campaign in the near future. However, the effectiveness of this change in strategy remains uncertain. The IDF has faced criticism in recent days after an edited video emerged on social media, allegedly showing Palestinian men and young children being forcibly detained and stripped by Israeli forces in a Gaza stadium. The IDF claims this measure is necessary to check detainees for explosives, but the validity and circumstances surrounding the video are still being investigated.
The toll of the conflict is visible throughout Gaza, with evidence of Israel's artillery hitting a U.N.-run school in central Gaza. Families seeking refuge in the school are left with damaged walls and floors stained with blood. Displaced families in Rafah are crowded into classrooms, sharing limited supplies of food and water that have dwindled after ten prolonged weeks of war. The Palestinian prime minister has accused Israel of deliberately starving the people of Gaza.
Amidst this chaos, children in Gaza struggle to find traces of normalcy. In a classroom filled with suffering and death, a teacher attempts to provide a small respite. However, the siege on Gaza suggests that a return to a normal life for these children may remain elusive for months to come.
