Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Latest Airstrikes Increase Death Toll in Gaza Strip
The death toll continues to rise in the Gaza Strip following the recent airstrikes on the Palestinian territory. The Israeli military is conducting these operations in an attempt to eliminate the leaders of Hamas and dismantle the militant group responsible for the attack on southern Israel nearly four months ago.
On Sunday, strikes targeted two houses and a mosque in central Gaza, resulting in the deaths of 29 people and injuring at least 60 others. Separate airstrikes in Rafah, the southernmost city in Gaza, claimed the lives of two children, aged 12 and 2, according to the hospital's registration office where their bodies were taken.
In response, Israel's military conducted a raid on Hamas' brigade headquarters in the southern city of Khan Younis. They claim to have discovered training materials related to the October 7 attack in southern Israel, including models simulating Israeli kibbutzim entrance gates, military bases, and IDF armored vehicles.
The situation in Gaza remains dire, with Hamas and other militants holding dozens of hostages who were abducted during the attack that caused approximately 1,200 deaths, mostly civilians, and triggered Israel's extensive offensive. In November, a one-week truce led to the release of over 100 hostages in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners.
As of Sunday morning, the Hamas-ruled territory's Health Ministry reported that the Israeli offensive in Gaza had claimed the lives of 27,365 people and wounded over 66,000 others. The Health Ministry does not differentiate between civilian and combatant deaths but notes that the majority of those killed were women and children.
International pressure on Israel continues to mount, with the White House urging the country to take greater measures to avoid harming civilians and to facilitate the entry of more aid into the besieged Gaza Strip. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is scheduled to return to the region this week, with visits planned to Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Israel, and the West Bank.
In the midst of this tense situation, an incident in the occupied West Bank has further fueled tensions. Israeli police reported that officers shot and killed a 14-year-old Palestinian boy who allegedly attempted to stab them during a routine security check in an area east of Jerusalem. Critics of Israel argue that its security forces employ excessive force against Palestinian suspects, a concern that has intensified during the ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza.
Additionally, Spain has pledged 3.5 million euros ($3.8 million) to the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, to support its activities in Gaza. Several donor countries have suspended their funding to UNRWA following Israel's accusation that 12 of its employees were involved in the October 7 attack that ignited the current Israeli-Hamas conflict. The Spanish government is closely monitoring the investigation into Israel's allegations and has urged the European Union to maintain funding for the agency.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict shows no signs of abating, with the death toll in Gaza continuing to mount and tensions persisting in the occupied West Bank. The international community, including the United States and Spain, is closely watching the situation and urging the parties involved to seek a peaceful resolution to end the cycle of violence.
