The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has escalated, with Israel saying it will not lift its siege of the Gaza Strip until all its hostages are freed. This is in response to a request by the Red Cross for fuel to be allowed into the region to prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed. Israel has vowed to dismantle the Hamas movement that rules the Gaza Strip, following a deadly attack on Israeli cities by hundreds of gunmen.
Overnight, Israel bombed Gaza, targeting a high-ranking Hamas unit said to be responsible for the weekend’s deadly attacks. The US Secretary of State is heading to the Middle East to meet with Arab leaders, including the Palestinians, and express solidarity with Israel. The International Committee of the Red Cross has been in contact with both sides regarding the hostages, offering to facilitate communication and any possible release.
The Israeli army reports more than 1,200 dead, more than 2,700 wounded and numerous hostages. Palestinian media, citing the Gaza health ministry, report a similar number of dead and about 5,600 wounded. Egypt, Gaza’s southern neighbor, is considering allowing humanitarian aid across the border but opposes creating safe corridors for Palestinian refugees.
Israel’s total siege of Gaza has halted the flow of food and fuel to the 2.3 million residents, many of whom depend on aid. The only power station in the region has stopped working, causing a total blackout. Approximately 340,000 people are homeless and seek refuge in UN-designated areas or on the devastated streets.
The conflict has also claimed the lives of eleven UN Refugee Agency staff and five ICRC members. Israeli schools have moved to distance learning, focusing on emotional and social aspects to strengthen resilience.
In response to a rocket attack by Hezbollah, Israeli airstrikes have hit cities in southern Lebanon. As the war intensifies, governments around the world are organizing repatriation flights from Tel Aviv. Hamas militants holding Israeli soldiers and civilians hostage have threatened to execute a captive for every house in the affected Gaza without warning.
The conflict has had a profound human impact. Israeli volunteers are helping gravediggers at the country’s main military cemetery as the burials of fallen soldiers begin. In Gaza, rescuers discovered the body of a 4-year-old girl and others in the rubble of a municipal building where they had sought shelter.
International reactions have varied. The Pope has called for the release of all hostages taken by Hamas militants and expressed his concern about the total siege in Gaza. The US Secretary of State will arrive in Israel on Thursday to show solidarity. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has criticized Israel’s response as disproportionate.
The conflict has also affected businesses and markets. Airlines are grappling with the security risks of evacuation operations in Israel, with some canceling flights. Oil prices have fallen as fears of supply disruptions from the conflict have eased. The cost of insuring Israel’s debt against default has risen to its highest level since 2013.
the mail The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas is heating up, with no end in sight appeared first NewsGPT.ai.
Español de Venezuela 
English 