In a heightened escalation of tensions, Israel launched deadly airstrikes in Gaza on Sunday, intensifying international calls for the protection of civilians and the reinstatement of an expired truce with Hamas, the Palestinian resistance group. The Israeli military reported conducting more than 400 strikes in Gaza since the collapse of the ceasefire on Friday, leading to a grim toll of at least 240 confirmed deaths, as stated by the Palestinian government.
In response to the Israeli offensive, Hamas and the Palestinian group Islamic Jihad initiated “rocket barrages” targeting multiple Israeli cities, including Tel Aviv. Israel confirmed the combat-related deaths of two soldiers, marking the first casualties since the cessation of the truce. The situation further escalated as an Israeli bombing near Gaza’s southern border with Egypt resulted in the tragic loss of at least seven lives early on Sunday.
This renewed cycle of violence underscores the precarious situation in the region and raises urgent concerns about the protection of civilians caught in the crossfire. International efforts are being called upon to address the escalating conflict and work towards a sustainable resolution to prevent further loss of life and suffering.
⚡️Hamas publishes footage of their fighters targeting Israeli equipment and personnel in Gaza pic.twitter.com/HPRos0K6PH
— War Monitor (@WarMonitors) December 2, 2023
Israeli airstrikes also targeted the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza on Saturday night, resulting in at least 13 fatalities, as reported by the official Palestinian news agency Wafa.
On Saturday, US Vice President Kamala Harris strongly criticized the increasing civilian casualties in Israel’s eight-week war, expressing concern over the high number of innocent Palestinians killed. Speaking at UN climate talks in Dubai, Harris stated, “Too many innocent Palestinians have been killed,” emphasizing the devastating impact of civilian suffering depicted in images and videos from Gaza.
The United Nations estimates that over two-thirds of Gaza’s population, approximately 1.7 million people, have been displaced by the ongoing conflict.
World Health Organization head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, on Sunday, expressed deep concern over the situation, stating that he couldn’t find words strong enough to convey their distress.
Dr. Fadel Naim, the chief doctor at Al-Ahli Arab hospital in Gaza City, reported receiving 30 bodies on Saturday, including seven children. One resident, Nemr al-Bel, recounted the destruction of three houses by airstrikes, resulting in 10 deaths in his family, with 13 more individuals still trapped under the rubble.
Gaza is facing shortages of essential resources like food and water, and numerous homes have been destroyed. UN agencies have declared a humanitarian catastrophe, although some aid trucks did manage to arrive on Saturday.
The Palestine Red Crescent Society mentioned that Israel had advised NGOs not to bring aid convoys across the Rafah border crossing from Egypt after the truce ended. Despite this, the charity reported that some trucks were able to deliver aid with the help of its Egyptian counterparts.
Hamas fighters breached Gaza’s militarized border into Israel on October 7, prompting Israel to vow to eliminate Hamas and launch a severe air and ground campaign that has resulted in over 15,000
casualties, predominantly civilians, according to Palestinian authorities in Gaza.
A week-long truce facilitated by Qatar, backed by Egypt and the United States, led to the release of 80 Israeli hostages in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners. However, the truce collapsed, with both sides accusing each other of violating its conditions.
Israeli negotiators left Doha on Saturday after reaching an impasse in talks aimed at securing a new pause in hostilities. Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant emphasized the need for fresh military action to pressure Hamas into paying a heavy price for the release of hostages.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserted that the war would persist until all its aims, including the elimination of the resistance movement, were achieved. He underscored the continuation of the ground campaign while adhering to international law.
Since the ceasefire ended, Israel’s air, naval, and ground forces have targeted over 400 locations in Gaza, according to the army. The military’s statement indicated that this figure aligns roughly with the daily average number of strikes before the pause.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, in Tel Aviv on Saturday, declared, “There is no way to win except by continuing the ground campaign,” emphasizing its adherence to international law.
Israel’s military carried out airstrikes near Damascus on Saturday, as reported by Syria. Additionally, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard accused Israel of killing two of its members in Syria during what it described as an “advisory mission.”
