In a tragic turn of events, the Palestinian health ministry has reported that at least 260 children have lost their lives due to Israeli attacks on Gaza. The toll on both sides is devastating, with the Israeli military spokesperson confirming that the Israeli death toll has now risen to 1,200, and over 2,700 individuals injured.
According to the Palestinian foreign ministry, the Israeli air strikes since Saturday have resulted in the destruction of more than 22,600 residential units, 10 health facilities, and significant damage to 48 schools. The impact on civilian infrastructure is unimaginable, as countless families are left homeless and essential services are severely disrupted.
The Israeli army has revealed that it successfully destroyed an advanced monitoring system developed by Hamas. This sophisticated system, consisting of high-quality cameras concealed within solar heaters across Gaza, was utilised by the armed group to detect aircraft in the sky. The Israeli military’s action aimed to neutralise Hamas’ ability to track and identify aircraft over the besieged enclave.
Amidst this distressing situation, a Hamas government official has reported that at least 30 people have been killed and hundreds wounded as Israel relentlessly pounded the Gaza Strip with numerous air raids overnight. Residential buildings, factories, mosques, and shops have been targeted, causing further destruction and loss of life.
Israeli military spokesperson Jonathan Conricus has confirmed that hundreds of thousands of troops are amassing near the Gaza Strip in preparation for a war with Hamas. Israeli forces, including infantry, armoured soldiers, artillery corps, and reserve soldiers, are mobilising to ensure that Hamas is left without any military capabilities to threaten or harm Israeli civilians.
The escalating conflict has also sparked concerns in Lebanon, where residents near the border are already seeking shelter or fleeing due to cross-border attacks. Lebanon’s population, still recovering from recent economic turmoil, now faces the additional burden of potential war with Israel. Hezbollah, a Lebanese Shia group, has reported the loss of three of its members due to Israeli shelling, while an Israeli deputy commander and two Palestinian fighters in southern Lebanon have also lost their lives in the cross-border violence.
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has pledged to intensify the war against Hamas, stating that a ground offensive is on the horizon. Speaking to Israeli troops near the Gaza fence, Gallant emphasised that the offensive has already begun and will only escalate further. He expressed that Hamas sought change and they would indeed witness it, as the situation in Gaza would no longer be the same.
