Palestine-Israel Crisis: Day 21 Highlights

21^st Day of Israel’s Palestine War

Casualty Reports:

Gaza’s health authority reported 481 fatalities from Israeli air raids.

Overnight attacks resulted in the death of 40 Palestinians, according to medical sources and the Palestinian news agency, WAFA.

An airstrike targeted the Al-Abyad Mosque in the northern Gaza Strip, causing several casualties.

Since October 7, 7,326 Palestinian lives have been lost to Israeli strikes, while 1,400 Israelis have died from Hamas attacks.

Tensions increased in the West Bank with Israeli forces reportedly killing four Palestinians. Three of the casualties were from Jenin and one from Qalqilya.

The Palestinian death toll in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since October 7 has reached 110.

Rocket strikes in Tel Aviv resulted in injuries, with a 20-year-old male being severely hurt in one such incident.

Airstrikes and Attacks:

The Al-Shati Refugee Camp was hit in a series of airstrikes.

The Nuseirat and Khan Younis refugee camps were identified as high-impact areas.

Israeli ground forces, along with tanks and armored bulldozers, conducted an overnight raid in northern Gaza targeting Hamas. The raid was described by local radio as “relatively large,” hinting at it being the most significant since Israel began preparing for a potential larger invasion.

Hamas claimed responsibility for a rocket attack on a Tel Aviv building that caused three casualties.

Response to Casualties:

Responding to U.S. President Joe Biden’s skepticism regarding the death count, Gaza’s health ministry emphasized the human stories behind each number.

Philippe Lazzarini of the UN’s Palestine refugees agency stressed the limited aid reaching Gaza, equating it to “crumbs” for the desperate population.

Diplomatic Efforts:

London’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, advocated for a ceasefire in Gaza, a position differing from the UK government.

The Kremlin’s spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, discussed Russia’s balanced approach to the Israel-Palestinian conflict and the recent invitation to a Hamas delegation.

Qatari-led discussions on a ceasefire and potential prisoner exchange are reportedly advancing.

The EU called for “humanitarian corridors and pauses” in Gaza.

Arab nations and the Global South convened at the UN General Assembly to call for an end to bombings in Gaza.

Diplomatic efforts and humanitarian concerns remain central in international discussions regarding the conflict.

A Hamas delegation visited Moscow for talks, marking their first significant international visit since October 7.

An emergency session on the Israel-Gaza crisis was held at the United Nations General Assembly.

Nine Arab nations jointly condemned attacks on civilians and breaches of international law in Gaza.

Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki visited The Hague to meet the International Criminal Court prosecutor, advocating for an ICC investigation.

Memorial and Humanitarian Concerns:

Israeli army bulldozers destroyed the memorial of late Palestinian journalist, Shireen Abu Akleh, in Jenin refugee camp. Shireen Abu Akleh, an Al Jazeera journalist, was killed on May 11, 2022, during an Israeli operation in the West Bank despite wearing press identification.

Aid agencies are emphasizing the need for more humanitarian support, with 74 aid trucks having entered Gaza and eight more expected.

There are conflicting reports on the number of hostages in Gaza, with the Israeli military estimating 229 and Hamas estimates ranging from 200 to 250.

Security Operations:

Nineteen people were reportedly arrested in pre-dawn raids.

This list organizes the events based on casualty reports, specific incidents of violence, diplomatic efforts, and other relevant categories. Each point provides a specific fact or outcome related to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.