Israeli airstrike kills 26 in Gaza, toll surpasses 7,000 in 20 days

Toll on Palestinians in Gaza Strip is devastating, with at least 7,028 lives lost in Israeli attacks, including 2,913 children

Muslim Network TV Desk with inputs from agencies

GAZA, Palestine – In a devastating turn of events, an Israeli airstrike struck a residential house in Khan Younis, resulting in the tragic loss of 26 lives. Fears are mounting that additional individuals may be trapped beneath the rubble.

Since the initial Hamas attack on October 7, Israel has continuously bombarded Gaza, resulting in numerous casualties and extensive property damage.

The Israeli government has expressed readiness for a full-scale air, sea, and land assault on Gaza in its pursuit to dismantle Hamas.

Furthermore, the Israeli army conducted an overnight ground raid inside Gaza, specifically targeting Hamas positions with tanks. The toll on Palestinians in the Gaza Strip is devastating, with at least 7,028 lives lost in Israeli attacks, including 2,913 children, according to the health ministry in the besieged enclave. In Israel, over 1,400 people have lost their lives since October 7.

The Israeli army announced on Thursday that the number of Israeli hostages in Gaza increased to 224 while the number of soldiers killed since the beginning of war on Oct. 7 rose to 309.

Daniel Hagari, Israeli army spokesperson, said at a press conference: “The families of 309 soldiers have been notified, along with the families of 224 hostages.”

He further stated: “We will continue executing field operations to locate the hostages and the missing individuals. This number is subject to change, and we will ensure that the families of those abducted and missing are kept updated.”

He said the Israeli military’s overnight raid in northern Gaza was a limited operation, explaining: “The Israeli forces conducted a targeted raid last night as part of our preparations for the next stages of the combat. This operation is aimed at addressing threats, neutralizing militants, disposing of explosives, and eliminating potential ambushes to facilitate the subsequent stages.”

In the occupied West Bank, Israeli forces shot and killed 17-year-old Asid Hamdi Hamidat in the Jalazone refugee camp, making him the 105th Palestinian to die since October 7 and the 313th to perish in the occupied West Bank this year.

The destruction in Gaza is staggering, with approximately 200,000 housing units completely or partially destroyed, along with extensive damage to educational facilities, healthcare infrastructure, and a dire situation for the 1.4 million internally displaced Gazans.

In a tragic twist of fate, a prominent Al Jazeera journalist in Gaza, Wael Al-Dahdouh, and his family have become victims of an Israeli airstrike. This incident highlights the dangers faced by journalists covering the ongoing conflict.

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, at least 24 journalists have lost their lives in the conflict, including both Palestinians and Israelis, with several others injured or missing.

As the conflict rages on, an increasing number of Gaza’s population has been forced to flee their homes, leading to a dire living situation for those who remain. The destruction caused by Israeli airstrikes has been extensive, with thousands of homes damaged or destroyed, government buildings and facilities affected, and a significant number of casualties.

Furthermore, the World Health Organization (WHO) has reported a disturbing increase in attacks on healthcare facilities in the occupied Palestinian territory, resulting in a tragic loss of lives, including healthcare workers. Urgent appeals have been made to protect both healthcare facilities and civilians in the region.

The situation in Gaza remains dire, with its 2.3 million residents facing severe shortages of essential necessities, including food, water, medicines, and fuel. The world watches with growing concern as the Israel-Hamas conflict shows no signs of abating, leaving innocent civilians trapped in a relentless cycle of violence and suffering.

U.S. President Joe Biden has renewed his call for a two-state solution once the current Israel-Hamas conflict concludes, urging Israelis and Palestinians to negotiate coexistence in peace.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced preparations for a ground invasion of Gaza with the goal of dismantling Hamas’s military and governmental capabilities. Amidst these grim developments, foreign ministers from several Arab nations, including Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, have issued a joint statement condemning actions that they perceive as neglecting the rights of Palestinians and leading to forced displacement and collective punishment in the Gaza Strip.

Additionally, a UK-based rights group Amnesty International has called for an immediate ceasefire to halt the escalating death toll and ensure essential aid reaches Gaza during this unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe.

Israel’s attacks on Gaza have long since crossed the threshold of self-defense to turn into open oppression, brutality, massacres, and barbarism, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday. Erdogan and Pope Francis spoke over the phone on the conflict between Israel and Palestine and escalating human rights violations.

Erdogan, according to Türkiye’s Communications Directorate, said Israel’s attacks on Gaza, which have no justification in any sacred text, have reached the level of a massacre, and that it is shameful for the international community to turn a blind eye to them. He stressed that all states should raise their voices against this humanitarian tragedy.

Criticizing the EU for failing to push for a cease-fire in Gaza, Erdogan said: “How many more children must die for the EU Commission to call for a cease-fire?”

“How many more bombs must fall on Gaza for the UN Security Council to take action?” he added, continuing his criticisms of the body’s ineffectuality. The European Commission’s lead spokesperson on foreign affairs, Peter Stano, on Wednesday said the bloc has not called for a cease-fire due to the ongoing “attacks” from the Palestinian group Hamas.

Stano reiterated the EU’s position and its support for Israel. “Those who readily pass judgment on human rights and freedoms when the opportunity arises have been ignoring the right to life of the oppressed in Gaza for 19 years,” Erdogan added.

He said that since the conflict began nearly three weeks ago, accompanied by a draconian cutoff of utilities for the Gaza Strip, Türkiye has sent over 200 tons of aid to get to Gaza through Egypt.