October 27th 2024.
According to Palestinian officials, the Israeli airstrikes on northern Gaza have resulted in the deaths of 22 people, mostly women and children. The situation in the hard-hit and isolated north has been described as a humanitarian catastrophe by aid groups, as the Israeli offensive enters its third week.
Israel has stated that the strikes on Saturday night were targeted at militants. However, on Sunday, a truck rammed into a bus stop near Tel Aviv, injuring 35 people according to first responders. The details surrounding this incident are still unclear, but it is worth noting that Palestinian militants have carried out similar vehicle-ramming attacks in the past. The attack occurred near the headquarters of Israel's Mossad spy agency.
Meanwhile, Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has stated that the strikes on his country over the weekend should not be exaggerated or downplayed. He has stopped short of calling for retaliation, indicating that Iran is carefully considering its response to the attack. This comes after Israeli warplanes attacked military targets in Iran in response to a ballistic missile attack earlier this month. There are growing fears that this exchange of fire could escalate into a full-blown regional war involving not only Israel and the United States, but also Iran and its militant proxies, such as Hamas and the Hezbollah group in Lebanon.
On Sunday, the Israeli military announced that four soldiers, including a military rabbi, have been killed in fighting in southern Lebanon. No further details have been provided about the circumstances of their deaths, but it has been reported that five other personnel have been severely wounded.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that the strikes on Iran have severely harmed the country and achieved all of Israel's goals. He also mentioned that the air force struck throughout Iran, significantly damaging their defense capabilities and their ability to produce missiles aimed at Israel.
In response, Ayatollah Khamenei has stated that it is up to the authorities to decide how to convey the power and will of the Iranian people to the Israeli regime, and to take actions that serve the interests of the nation and country. Ultimately, he will make the final decision on how Iran responds.
In a separate incident, a truck slammed into a bus at a stop as Israelis were returning to work after a week-long holiday, injuring several people. The bus stop is located near the Mossad headquarters, a military base, and a central highway junction. Israeli police have stated that they are treating this as a terror attack and are working with the country's internal security agency to identify the attacker. The Magen David Adom rescue service has reported that six of the wounded are in serious condition.
Tensions have been high since the outbreak of the war in Gaza, as Israel has conducted regular military raids into the occupied West Bank, resulting in hundreds of deaths. While most of those killed appear to be militants, there have also been reports of civilians and protestors being killed.
The Gaza Health Ministry's emergency service has reported that 11 women and two children were among the 22 killed in the strikes on Saturday night. They also stated that a further 15 people were wounded, and the death toll could rise. The victims were mostly from three families, and their names have been listed by the ministry.
The Israeli military has stated that they carried out a precise strike on militants in a structure in Beit Lahiya, taking steps to avoid harming civilians. However, the Gaza Health Ministry and other sources have disputed this, stating that the strikes hit several homes and buildings in the area, resulting in the deaths of innocent civilians.
The situation in northern Gaza has been dire, with hundreds of people killed and tens of thousands fleeing to Gaza City. Aid groups have warned of a catastrophic situation, as Israel has severely limited the entry of basic humanitarian aid. The remaining hospitals in northern Gaza have been overwhelmed by the waves of wounded, with one hospital even being raided over the weekend.
The International Committee of the Red Cross has stated that the ongoing Israeli evacuation orders and restrictions on the entry of essential supplies have left the civilian population in horrific circumstances. Many civilians are trapped, unable to move due to fighting, destruction, or physical constraints, and are now lacking access to basic medical care.
The war originally began when Hamas-led militants launched a surprise attack on southern Israel in October 2023, killing about 1200 people and abducting around 250, with some still being held hostage. In response, Israel launched a retaliatory offensive that has resulted in the deaths of more than 42,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. This figure includes both civilians and combatants, with more than half of those killed being women and children. On the other hand, Israel has claimed to have killed over 17,000 militants, but has not provided any evidence to support this.
The offensive has caused immense devastation in the impoverished coastal territory and has displaced around 90% of its population. Many have been forced to seek shelter in overcrowded and unsanitary tent camps along the coast, with hunger becoming a widespread issue. The situation remains tense, with no clear end to the conflict in sight.
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