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Israel has intensified its military operations in Gaza, with its forces now operating in central Deir el-Balah, an area that had previously seen little ground fighting. This expansion has further compressed the Palestinian population, pushing them into just 11 per cent of the Gaza Strip. The conflict, which has already claimed over 40,000 lives, continues to escalate, with the toll rising daily.
In Khan Younis, a Palestinian journalist was wounded while covering the expanding ground invasion, reportedly shot in the back by Israeli forces. This incident highlights the growing dangers faced by civilians and reporters alike in the region.
Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, on his ninth visit to Tel Aviv since the conflict began on October 7, emphasized the urgency of reaching a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. Blinken described this moment as a critical juncture for Israel to negotiate a ceasefire and secure the release of captives held by Hamas. However, his visit comes amid contentious negotiations, particularly regarding Israel’s insistence on maintaining control over the Philadelphi Corridor, the border area between Gaza and Egypt.
The humanitarian toll of the conflict continues to draw international concern. A coalition of 413 humanitarian organizations has written to the UN General Assembly, calling for increased protections for civilians and aid workers. They condemned the ongoing violence and the global rise in fatalities among humanitarian workers, describing the current situation as a “shameful” status quo that cannot continue.
In a related development, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for a missile attack on Israel’s Biyadh Blida military site near the Lebanon-Israel border. The attack carried out with a Burkhan missile, follows the recent deaths of two Hezbollah members in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon.