Southern Gaza City Bears the Brunt as Israel Escalates Offensive
Israel has intensified its brutal bombardment of southern Gaza’s main city, Khan Yunis, on Monday following a warning from the Palestinian resistance group Hamas. The militant group declared that no Israeli captives would leave Gaza alive unless Israel met its demands for prisoner releases.
Devastating Human Toll and Destruction
The ongoing offensive by Israel has left much of Gaza in ruins, with the death toll now exceeding 18,000, predominantly women and children. The Palestinian health ministry reported dozens of casualties from Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip, while Israel’s army confirmed rocket fire from Gaza into Israel.
An AFP correspondent witnessed Israeli strikes hitting Khan Yunis, while fighters from the Islamic Jihad group claimed to have blown up a house where Israeli soldiers were searching for a tunnel shaft.
Hamas Issues Warning on Prisoner Exchange
Hamas reiterated on Sunday that Israel would not receive their prisoners alive without meeting the demands for an exchange and negotiation. Israel claims there are still 137 captives in Gaza, while activists estimate around 7,000 Palestinians are in Israeli jails.
Health System in Gaza on the Brink of Collapse
Months of intense bombardment and clashes have pushed Gaza’s health system to the brink of collapse, with most hospitals non-functional and nearly two million people displaced. The UN estimates that 1.9 million of Gaza’s 2.4 million residents have been displaced from their homes, half of them children.
International Calls for Protection of Civilians and Aid Delivery
Humanitarian organizations continue to press Israel for greater protection of civilians. Lynn Hastings, UN humanitarian coordinator for the Palestinian territories, condemned Israel’s mapping software deployed to reduce non-combatant deaths as inadequate. The UN General Assembly is set to meet on Tuesday to discuss the situation in Gaza after a US veto blocked a Security Council resolution for a ceasefire on Friday.
Israeli Army Claims “Significant Achievements”
Israel’s army chief, Herzi Halevi, stated on Sunday that troops were using “significant force” in Gaza, claiming “significant achievements” in the war. The army reported 101 soldiers dead in the ground offensive and more than 250 targets struck in 24 hours.
Diplomatic Struggles and Regional Concerns
The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed concern over the Security Council’s “authority and credibility” being severely undermined by the US veto. Qatar, where Hamas’s leadership is based, is working on a new truce, but the window for success is narrowing. The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, rejected a ceasefire, citing concerns about Hamas’s stated intent to repeat attacks.
Fears of regional escalation loom as cross-border exchanges intensify between Israel and Lebanese fighters. Syria reported Israeli strikes near Damascus, and Yemen’s Houthi fighters threatened to attack vessels heading to Israel unless more aid is allowed into Gaza. France confirmed the shooting down of two drones launched from Yemen near its frigate in the Red Sea.
The international community watches with growing alarm as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens, with urgent calls for immediate, unimpeded aid deliveries and a renewed push for diplomatic solutions.
