Israeli strikes claim over 200 lives within 24 in Gaza

In the past 24 hours, Israeli strikes in Gaza have resulted in a tragic toll, claiming the lives of more than 200 people, according to Hamas-controlled authorities.

The United States has urged Israel to prioritize civilian protection amid mounting concerns over the intensity of its 11-week-old “Operation Swords of Iron,” aimed at rooting out Hamas.

The conflict has now zeroed in on Gaza City and the southern city of Khan Yunis, identified as strongholds of the Palestinian militant group responsible for the October 7 attacks on Israel.

Despite calls for restraint and aid for war-stricken Palestinians, Israel continues its offensive.

Reports of heavy Israeli shelling have led to plumes of grey and black smoke engulfing northern Gaza and Khan Yunis.

The latter, a refugee camp turned city and birthplace of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, finds itself at the heart of the escalating violence.

Israeli Army chief of staff, Herzi Halevi, commended the operation’s execution during his visit to troops on the ground in Khan Yunis.

Meanwhile, outside Nasser Hospital in the city, grieving relatives struggled to cope with the profound loss.

Hamas authorities declared a death toll surpassing 20,000, labeling the situation a genocide, a sentiment echoed by resident Rafat Al Aydi. Israel, however, denies targeting civilians directly, asserting the necessity of its offensive to prevent a recurrence of the October attacks.

In Washington, President Joe Biden engaged in a “long talk” with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, emphasizing the critical need to protect civilians and support humanitarian aid operations.

Israel affirmed its commitment to continue the war until all goals are achieved, highlighting the strain in U.S.-Israeli relations over the handling and duration of the Gaza conflict.

A UN Security Council resolution, allowing “immediate, safe, and unhindered” aid deliveries to Gaza, passed with U.S. backing. However, calls for a ceasefire were omitted. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres accused Israel of impeding aid deliveries, while Palestinians in Rafah emphasized the urgency of a ceasefire over aid alone.

The war’s toll has displaced 80 percent of Gaza’s population, according to UN estimates. Israelis, including those with relatives among the 129 captives in Gaza, demonstrated in Tel Aviv, further illustrating the human impact of the conflict.

Amidst the regional repercussions, a drone strike off Veraval, India, damaged a chemical tanker, marking the conflict’s spill into the broader region.

The Pentagon attributed the attack to a “one-way attack drone fired from Iran,” highlighting the complex geopolitical dimensions of the Gaza conflict.

As the war rages on, with talks of truce and a prisoner swap stalling, the international community grapples with the escalating humanitarian crisis and the widening scope of the conflict.