In the midst of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, hundreds of individuals anxiously gathered at Gaza’s southern border on Thursday. Israel’s military had effectively cut off Gaza City in the northern region of the enclave, intensifying the separation between the two areas. This move was made apparent as armored and infantry units engaged in battle with Hamas militants, as reported by the United Nations and former Israeli officers.
Israeli authorities, however, made it clear that they would ensure the safe passage of civilians who wished to travel south to escape the escalating violence.
Meanwhile, Israel continued its relentless bombardment of Gaza through heavy shelling and airstrikes. In response to an airstrike on a refugee camp in Gaza’s Jabalia area that resulted in the loss of numerous lives, the Israeli military claimed to have targeted a Hamas command complex.
The crisis deepened as Israel stated that 242 individuals were kidnapped by Palestinian militants on October 7th. The number of abductees has been fluctuating as Israel identifies additional victims of Hamas’ attacks.
On a glimmer of hope, the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza finally reopened after an extended period of closure due to the conflict. This allowed hundreds of foreign nationals to await evacuation from the war zone. Egypt expressed its commitment to aiding the safe passage of over 7,000 people from more than 60 countries.
Amidst the chaos, U.S. President Biden emphasized the importance of a humanitarian pause in the Israel-Hamas war. In line with this, U.S. officials are engaged in preliminary discussions with Arab nations regarding the future governance of Gaza post-conflict.
Tragically, both sides suffered significant casualties. Israel reported the loss of 19 soldiers in Gaza and other areas since the start of the ground operations. Hamas-controlled Gaza health authorities claimed that over 9,000 individuals, mostly women and children, were killed. However, it is important to note that they do not differentiate between militants and civilians. In Israel, more than 1,400 people, including over 300 Israel Defense Forces soldiers, lost their lives in the attacks that sparked the war. Additionally, the United Nations reported the deaths of 70 of its colleagues in Gaza.
