Israel designates Gaza city as a combat zone, health ministry reports death toll has escalated to 63,000
In the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza, the reported deaths of civilians have been mounting over nearly 23 months of war. The number of Palestinians killed during Israel's war in Gaza stands at over 63,000, according to recent reports.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced plans to militarily occupy the Gaza Strip, starting with Gaza City. The Israeli military claims Gaza City is a Hamas stronghold, alleging that a network of tunnels remains in use despite previous large-scale raids.
The United Nations, specifically UN Secretary-General António Guterres, has called on Israel to protect the civilian population in Gaza City during military operations against Hamas. Guterres urges Israel to refrain from plans to take over Gaza City to avoid forcing hundreds of thousands of civilians to flee and further endangering families.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced they targeted Abu Obeida, a spokesperson for Hamas's armed wing, in a strike on Gaza City. However, the situation on the ground is dire, with many people in Gaza City unable to follow evacuation orders due to starvation, sickness, or injury.
The head of the Red Cross warned it would be impossible to keep people safe during such a mass evacuation. The conflict began with a Hamas-led attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, resulting in the death of around 1,200 people and about 250 people taken hostage during the initial attack.
Israel has previously blamed Hamas militants for endangering civilians at aid sites. Four people were killed by Israeli gunfire on Saturday while trying to get aid in central Gaza. The bodies of the four were brought to Awda hospital.
In a recent development, Mr Netanyahu announced the retrieval of hostage Idan Shtivi from Gaza. The goal of Netanyahu's plan is to destroy Hamas and return Israeli hostages. Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee urged Palestinians to flee south, calling evacuation of the city "inevitable".
International humanitarian law requires Israel to ensure civilians have access to shelter, safety, and nutrition during evacuation orders. As the conflict continues, the world watches with concern, hoping for a peaceful resolution to the crisis and a return to normalcy for the people of Gaza.
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