Gaza marks 4th month of tragedy

In the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, the besieged Gaza Strip endured another wave of violence on Sunday, with Israeli airstrikes killing at least 64 people, including two journalists.

Mustafa Thuria, a video stringer for Agence France-Presse, and Hamza Wael Dahdouh, son of Al Jazeera’s Gaza bureau chief, were among the casualties.

The bombardment also took civilian lives in Khan Yunis and near the Egyptian border, where displaced people sought refuge.

Israeli forces reported dismantling Hamas’s military leadership in northern Gaza but continued operations in central Gaza, including a drone strike in the Bureij refugee camp.

The violence escalated to the West Bank, with an Israeli strike in Jenin claiming six Palestinian lives and an Israeli border police officer killed by a roadside bomb. Another Israeli civilian was shot dead near Ramallah, prompting a search for the attacker.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, back in the region for the fourth time since the conflict’s start on October 7, expressed concern about the situation.

He emphasized the need to end the “endless cycle of violence” and avoid further escalation. Tensions also rose between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, with cross-border fire escalating.

The conflict’s toll stands at around 1,140 deaths in Gaza, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures. Hamas holds around 250 hostages, with Israel reporting at least 24 deaths among them. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated Israel’s commitment to eliminate Hamas and secure the release of hostages.

Civilians in Gaza face an escalating humanitarian crisis, with top Western diplomats, including Blinken and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, in the region to address mounting fears of a wider conflict and boost aid to Gaza.

UN officials describe the situation as “catastrophic” and “epic,” emphasizing the urgent need for international intervention.