Devastating Toll: Hamas Claims Over 195 Lives Lost as Israel Launches Strikes on Refugee Camp

Israel Reports Casualties in Gaza Attack, Foreign Nationals Evacuate

In the latest developments of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza, Israel has revealed that one soldier was killed in Gaza on Wednesday. Additionally, approximately 7,500 foreign nationals are expected to evacuate from the Gaza Strip. These events come as the Hamas-run government claims that at least 195 Palestinians died in Israel’s attacks on the Jabalia refugee camp, with the United Nations commission suggesting that these strikes may amount to war crimes.

As part of an agreement between Israel, Egypt, and Hamas, 320 foreign citizens, including severely injured Gazans, crossed into Egypt on Wednesday. The evacuation includes passport holders from several countries, such as Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Finland, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Jordan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The Gaza border crossing will reopen for further evacuations, with an estimated total of 7,500 foreign passport holders leaving Gaza over the course of the next two weeks.

Israel continues its offensive against Hamas militants, conducting air, sea, and land strikes in an effort to eliminate the group. This military campaign follows the cross-border rampage by Hamas into southern Israel on October 7, during which Hamas reportedly killed 1,400 individuals and took over 200 hostages, mostly civilians. In response, Israel has carried out bombings, resulting in the deaths of at least 8,796 Palestinians, including 3,648 children, since October 7.

The al-Quds hospital in densely populated Gaza City was targeted by Israeli forces, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent. Israeli authorities had previously warned the hospital to evacuate, but U.N. officials claimed that this action would put patients’ lives at risk.

Israel announced that two Hamas military leaders were killed in their strikes on Jabalia, the largest refugee camp in Gaza. Israel alleges that Hamas used civilian buildings for military purposes, endangering Gazan civilians. Hamas, on the other hand, reports that at least 195 Palestinians were killed in the Israeli attacks on Jabalia, with over 120 individuals still missing under the rubble. A total of 777 people were wounded in the strikes.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed serious concerns, stating that these strikes on the camp could potentially be war crimes due to the high number of civilian casualties and destruction caused.

Against the backdrop of escalating hostilities, the situation in the Gaza Strip is rapidly deteriorating. As a result of Israel’s assault and tightened blockade, the region is experiencing severe shortages of food, fuel, drinking water, and medicine. Gaza’s hospitals are struggling to function due to fuel shortages, with the Indonesian Hospital’s main power generator no longer operational. Unless fuel is provided within the next few days, a disaster is imminent, warns Gaza health ministry spokesperson Ashraf Al-Qudra.

In response to international calls for a pause in hostilities, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is scheduled to visit Israel and Jordan on Friday. Blinken aims to voice solidarity with Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. However, he will also emphasize the importance of minimizing civilian casualties among Palestinians. Furthermore, Blinken plans to underscore the U.S. commitment to prevent the forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, a concern shared by many Arab states. He will be involved in talks led by Egypt and Qatar to secure the release of all hostages held by Hamas.

In addition to diplomatic efforts, the United States House of Representatives is considering a bill to provide $14.3 billion in aid for Israel. However, this bill is unlikely to become law, facing opposition in the Democratic-controlled Senate. The White House has threatened to veto the bill, as President Joe Biden seeks to pass a $106 billion bill that includes funding for Ukraine, border security, humanitarian aid, and support for Israel.

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