Israeli strikes on Gaza continue to cause casualties, with the toll increasing day by day. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry of the Islamist movement Hamas, at least 324 people have lost their lives in the last 24 hours, including 126 children and 88 women. These bloody attacks are part of the new episode of conflict which erupted after the attacks perpetrated by Hamas in Israel on October 7.
The escalation of violence between Israel and Hamas shows no signs of slowing and the situation in the Middle East continues to deteriorate. Israeli airstrikes have caused widespread damage in Gaza, with more than 1,300 buildings completely destroyed, according to the United Nations. The civilian population is particularly affected, with an increasing number of victims, including many innocent children and women.
Faced with this tragedy, international attention is turning to events in the region. The United States attempted to facilitate the exit of Americans from Gaza by negotiating with Israel and Egypt to allow their passage through the Rafah crossing point. Although agreement has been given, its implementation remains uncertain.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has decided to suspend talks on possible normalization with Israel due to the escalation of the conflict. The move comes as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is on a regional tour and seeks to promote de-escalation.
Tensions remain high in the region, with new attempts to infiltrate Israel from Lebanon resulting in the deaths of several “terrorists”. The Israeli army also announced that it had eliminated a Hamas leader responsible for the October 7 attack.
The situation in Gaza is described by some as a “massive and deliberate massacre of civilians”, according to Jean-François Corty, vice-president of Médecins du Monde. The humanitarian consequences of this conflict are devastating, with thousands of families losing their homes and essential infrastructure destroyed.
In this context, it is crucial that the international community intensify its efforts to end the violence and work towards a diplomatic solution. The protection of civilians and respect for international law must be at the heart of concerns. It is time to find a peaceful end to this deadly conflict which is depriving so many innocent lives.