Palestine-Israel Crisis: Day 26 Highlights

Israeli Attacks: Day 26

• Israeli airstrikes targeted the Jabalia refugee camp in the Gaza Strip twice in less than 24 hours.
• The strike resulted in the deaths of scores of people and the destruction of an entire apartment block.
• Bombs hit the residential area of Faluja.
• Another strike killed 12 people in the Khan Yunis area.
• On Tuesday, an attack in Jabalia killed 50 people.
• There was also an attack on the al-Nuseirat refugee camp, which resulted in multiple fatalities.

Israel’s ground offensive

• Palestinian fighters and Israeli forces engaged in intense combat south of the Zeitoun neighborhood, southeast of Gaza City.
• Israeli attacks spanned from the north and northwest of Gaza to the south and southeast of Gaza City.
• According to Israeli reports:
• 15 Israeli soldiers were killed in ground operations.
• Four were confirmed dead on Wednesday, with the remaining 11 reported dead on Tuesday.
• At least 14 other soldiers were injured, seven critically.
• The Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ armed wing, reported killing three Israeli soldiers in a cross-border attack on Wednesday near Erez, northeast of the Gaza Strip.
• Israeli military acknowledged the significant challenges faced by their troops in the ground operations amid intense clashes with Hamas.
• The U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees reported death of three staff members in the last 24 hours, totalling 67 U.N. staff fatalities.

Impact on Civilians and Infrastructure

Casualties and damages include:

• 8,796 people killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza, including 3,648 children and 2,290 women.
• 22,219 people injured and 2,030 missing, with 1,020 children buried under rubble.
• In the occupied West Bank, 128 Palestinians were killed and at least 1,980 were injured.
• In Gaza, 130 medical staff were killed, and 28 ambulances were destroyed.
• Health facilities experienced 270 attacks, disabling 16 out of 35 hospitals.
• The Turkish Friendship Hospital reported running out of fuel, halting all services.
• Since October 7, the Israeli army dropped 18,000 tons of bombs on Gaza, equivalent to 1.5 times the bomb dropped on Hiroshima.
• Destruction included 85 government buildings, 47 mosques, three churches, 200,000 buildings (32,500 uninhabitable), 203 schools (45 completely unusable).
• The General Authority for Gaza Border Crossings reported:
• 76 wounded Palestinians and their companions entered Egypt through the Rafah crossing.
• An additional 335 people with foreign passports also entered.

Impact on Journalism

• The current conflict has seen an unprecedented number of journalists killed.
• Reporters Without Borders (RSF) filed a war crimes complaint regarding journalists in Gaza.
• RSF details nine journalists killed since October 7 and two injured.
• Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reported:
• 26 Palestinian and one Lebanese journalist were killed by Israeli shelling.
• Four Israeli journalists were killed in Palestinian attacks.
• Eight journalists were injured, and nine are either missing or detained.
• CPJ emphasized the importance of protecting journalists during conflicts.

International Response

• Jordan has recalled its ambassador to Israel due to the conflict in Gaza.
• The return of the ambassadors is contingent upon Israel ending its war on Gaza.
• Bolivia severed diplomatic ties with Israel because of the increasing death toll in Gaza.
• Colombia and Chile recalled their ambassadors, condemning the loss of life and urging a ceasefire.
• U.S. Secretary of State Blinken plans a visit to Israel for talks with officials.
• Turkey and Iran proposed a regional conference to prevent the war from expanding in the Middle East.
• Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan criticized international inaction on Gaza.
• Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim discussed U.S. pressure on Malaysia’s stance regarding the conflict.
• Malaysia faced U.S. criticism for not condemning Hamas and for potential dealings with Iran.