According to Palestinian health authorities, the toll of Israel’s military actions in Gaza has tragically surpassed 50,000 lives lost. Specifically, the health ministry reports that at least 50,021 Palestinians have been killed and over 113,274 wounded since the onset of this conflict.
The Israeli military confirmed the death of Salah al-Bardaweel, a prominent Hamas political leader, stating that he was killed in an operation yesterday. Reports indicate that Mr. Bardaweel lost his life in an airstrike targeted at Khan Younis in southern Gaza.
This morning, the skies over Gaza resonated with explosions as Israeli planes struck multiple locations across northern, central, and southern regions, marking a significant escalation in the military campaign that commenced on Tuesday. Health authorities report that at least 30 individuals have died in strikes on Rafah and Khan Younis today, including three municipal employees.
Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee issued an evacuation alert on social media platform X, urging residents of the Tel Al-Sultan neighborhood in Rafah to leave the area as military operations were set to intensify.
Hamas has accused Israeli forces of assassinating Mr. Bardaweel while he was at prayer with his wife, during a strike that hit their tent shelter in Khan Younis.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has emphasized the objective of the ongoing conflict is to dismantle Hamas both as a military power and a governing body. He asserts that the new military campaign is aimed at compelling Hamas to release remaining hostages.
In the recent military actions, Hamas leadership, including Essam Addalees, who heads its de facto government, and internal security chief Mahmoud Abu Watfa, were among those killed on Tuesday, alongside several other officials. The Palestinian health officials highlighted that on that day alone, at least 400 individuals were killed, more than half of whom were women and children.
Hamas has claimed that Israel is violating the terms outlined in a ceasefire agreement from January by refusing to engage in negotiations aimed at a ceasefire and withdrawal from Gaza. Nonetheless, Hamas has expressed its willingness to negotiate and is currently evaluating “bridging” proposals from U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.
As Israeli forces launched their offensive in Rafah, the military has again called for residents in the area to evacuate.
The renewed airstrikes and ground operations, which have caused extensive devastation in Gaza, have prompted urgent calls for a ceasefire from various Arab and European nations. In a joint statement, Britain, France, and Germany urged Israel to allow humanitarian aid access.
Israel has restricted the entry of goods into Gaza, with Prime Minister Netanyahu’s foreign policy adviser, Ophir Falk, accusing Hamas of misappropriating aid—a claim Hamas denies. Israel initiated its operations in Gaza following a devastating attack by Hamas on Israeli communities on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities and the abduction of 251 hostages, according to Israeli sources.
As the conflict continues, over 49,000 Palestinians have reportedly lost their lives, reflecting the immense suffering and destruction in the coastal territory, which has left hundreds of thousands seeking refuge in tents and makeshift shelters.
“Our duty is to safeguard those who cannot safeguard themselves,” says a humanitarian worker on the ground, emphasizing the urgent need for peace and resolution.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International–Monitoring
