Casualties from Israeli Air Strikes in Gaza
According to the health ministry controlled by Hamas, at least 85 Palestinians lost their lives in Israeli air strikes that took place overnight in Gaza.
Hamas’s Response and Ongoing Conflict
Shortly after, Israel’s military reported intercepting three rockets that were fired by Hamas’s military arm towards Tel Aviv as a retaliatory measure. The recent attacks come after Israel resumed its air campaign and ground operations this week, which have already resulted in over 430 fatalities in the last two days alone, as reported by the health ministry.
New Ground Operations Launched
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Thursday that a ground operation aimed at northern Gaza had commenced. This escalation follows a period of decreased military action that began with a ceasefire in January.
Injuries Reported After Recent Attacks
The health ministry in Gaza also indicated that 133 individuals were injured during the latest hostilities on Thursday. Israel had resumed its attacks on Tuesday after unsuccessful negotiations to extend a ceasefire, indicating that operations would intensify until Hamas released the remaining hostages.
Casualties Among UN Personnel
In the past few days, five employees of the UN’s Palestinian refugee agency, Unrwa, have been confirmed dead, as stated by agency chief Philippe Lazzarini. He expressed concern for the future and highlighted that these individuals were teachers, doctors, and nurses. Moreover, on Wednesday, one UN worker was killed and five others injured due to damage at a compound in central Gaza, with the circumstances surrounding the incident remaining unclear.
Missile Attack and International Developments
Elsewhere, Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for firing a ballistic missile at Israel, targeting Ben Gurion Airport, although no injuries were reported, and the IDF stated the missile was intercepted. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that combat operations had resumed at full intensity, stating that any further ceasefire negotiations would occur “under fire.”
Continued Strain on Ceasefire Efforts
There has been no agreement between Israel and Hamas on prolonging the ceasefire past its initial phase, which ended on March 1. While Hamas proposed releasing a living American hostage and the bodies of four others, it did not accept the ceasefire renegotiations as per Israeli demands. The Israeli government has also implemented a blockade on all essential supplies entering Gaza since early March, further escalating the humanitarian crisis in the region. This ongoing conflict was triggered by Hamas’s October 7 attack, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 individuals, predominantly civilians.
