The conflict between Hamas and Israel in Gaza has been ongoing for the past 11 months. The Israeli military has been carrying out relentless attacks, resulting in a significant number of casualties daily. According to Gaza's Ministry of Health, the death toll has now surpassed 40,000, with approximately 40,265 people reported dead so far. In the most recent attack on Friday, 16 people, including many women and children, lost their lives.
The Israeli military conducted powerful airstrikes in Khan Yunis and Deir al-Balah. After these drone attacks, the aftermath was horrifying. On Thursday, the IDF also targeted a school and residential building, killing 3 people and injuring about 15 others. A video of this attack went viral, showing an Israeli missile hitting the school and a house.
In this attack, a large building collapses and a cloud of smoke rises. Chaos erupts in the area as people rush to rescue the injured from the rubble and transport them to hospitals. Meanwhile, 9 people died in the Israeli drone attacks on Khan Yunis, and 8 people lost their lives in Deir al-Balah. The Israeli military targeted several Hamas positions.
Source: aajtak
Additionally, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant claimed to have destroyed over 150 terrorist tunnels in Rafah as part of a military operation in the Gaza Strip. During his visit to an air force base, Prime Minister Netanyahu said that the Israeli forces are prepared to handle any situation, both defensively and offensively. He stated, "We are prepared for any scenario."
Despite ongoing ceasefire talks, the relentless attacks by Israel have turned densely populated areas of Gaza into ruins. Most of Gaza's 2.3 million residents have been forced to flee their homes. Since the war began last October, 40,000 Palestinians and 1,200 Israelis have lost their lives. This conflict has taken a severe toll on Israel's economy.
Not only has this war plunged Israel into an economic crisis, but the country's deficit has also increased. Credit ratings have dropped, and the tourism industry has suffered. The country's spending has sparked controversies. The ongoing attempts at ceasefire, along with airstrikes from Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iranian fronts, have demoralized the people here. The impact is visibly evident in markets and tourist spots.
Many Israeli economists are deeply concerned about the current situation in the country. They urgently seek an end to the ongoing conflict in Gaza so that life can return to normal. The cost of reconstruction in the south and north of Israel, compensation for victims' families, and the expense of strengthening the country's defense systems have placed immense pressure on Israel's economy. Israel is expected to lose approximately $14 billion from its gross domestic product this year.
