The United Nations has once again vehemently criticized the Israeli military actions against the Palestinians in Gaza. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres remarked on the troubling death toll in Gaza during a conference in Nairobi, expressing that the number of civilians killed in the last few months alarmingly surpasses those during the Russia-Ukraine conflict over the last two years.
Despite warnings, Israel continues to threaten a large-scale operation in southern Gaza's Rafah, forecasting severe and devastating consequences for those seeking refuge there. Over half of Gaza's 2.2 million population is sheltered in Rafah.
Many are living in tents and temporary refuge homes. Secretary-General Guterres noted, "The civilian death toll in Gaza in recent months is more than double the number during the Russia-Ukraine hostilities over two years." Meanwhile, the US hinted that Israel might have violated international humanitarian laws by using American weaponry during the conflict.
The US government admits to a lack of complete information and has submitted a report in Congress, ordering an investigation into Israel's use of American arms sent in the past year. To date, the Israeli offensive in Gaza, ongoing since October 7, has resulted in approximately 35,000 Palestinian deaths, with over 80,000 injured.
Public Protests Erupt Against Israeli Government
Pressure mounts on Israel's government for the release of hostages held by Hamas. Recently, families and friends of the hostages have been consistently demonstrating in Tel Aviv, calling for the acceptance of Hamas's ceasefire proposal to free the captives. There is a fear among the hostages' relatives that an extended conflict could lead to more deaths.
On October 7 of the previous year, Hamas captured over 250 individuals in an attack on Israel, nearly half of whom have since been released. However, 124 Israelis remain detained. Families and friends of the hostages have protested outside government offices and staged sit-ins, which led to several being arrested in confrontations with the police.
Source: aajtak
Israel Escalates Attacks; Hamas Issues Warnings
Following a refusal to agree on a ceasefire, Hamas has warned Israel that if attacks in Gaza continue, no ceasefire will be established. Hamas had earlier sent a delegation to Cairo for talks to continue. They had agreed to a conditional ceasefire regarding the captives, yet Israel withdrew from discussions.
Hamas official Osama Hamdan blames America and Israel outright for the impasse. The decision now rests with Israel. Following these accusations, the US stated that Hamas had rejected the ceasefire. The US relayed that talks on hostages' release and the ceasefire have recommenced with CIA Director William Burns in Cairo.
Meanwhile, Israel's airstrikes in Gaza persist. Rafah has been targeted by multiple air strikes, and ground forces are deploying tanks for a potential attack. The local population has been advised to evacuate Rafah, prompting another wave of displacement. The US considers this to be a limited operation by Israel. Previously, Israel rejected a Hamas-proposed ceasefire deal, alleging it fell short of their demands.
