Day 74: Rising Casualties
The Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip has reported that the number of victims in the ongoing Israeli aggression has increased on the 74th day. At the same time, the Israeli army has announced new deaths and injuries among its ranks.
Increasing Casualties
According to the Ministry's daily update, the number of martyrs in the Gaza Strip has reached 19,667, with 52,586 wounded. Dozens of people were killed in an Israeli bombing of the Al-Rimal neighborhood in Gaza City and the city of Rafah in the south.
Israeli Army Losses
The occupation army has reported that 9 officers and soldiers were killed and 29 were wounded in the past 24 hours. This brings the total number of Israeli casualties to 137 officers and soldiers since the start of the ground operation.
Dozens of Martyrs in Gaza
In the Al-Rimal neighborhood of Gaza City, 50 Palestinians were killed in an Israeli bombing. There are also 50 missing individuals whose fate is still unknown due to the bombing. In Jabalia, 16 Palestinians were martyred and over 70 others were injured. Another 12 people were killed and several injured in a house targeted by an Israeli raid in Khan Yunis. The Safety Association building in Jabalia al-Balad was also bombed, resulting in more casualties.
A Catastrophic Humanitarian Situation
The UN Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wensland, has expressed concern over the high number of civilian casualties in Gaza, calling it unprecedented in history. He also mentioned that Gaza has witnessed the largest number of deaths among United Nations employees. Fadel Naeem, head of the orthopedic department at Al-Ahli Al-Mamadani Hospital, announced that the hospital had stopped working after being stormed by the Israeli army. UNICEF's spokesman expressed anger over the killing of children recovering from amputations in Gaza hospitals.
West Bank Confrontations
In the West Bank, confrontations broke out in several towns after the Israeli occupation forces stormed homes and areas. These towns include Yabad, Surif, Beit Ummar, Bani Naim, Aqraba, Jericho, Ramallah, Kafr Qaddum, and the Al-Fawwar camp. The Palestinian Prisoners Club reported that at least 30 citizens were arrested, including former prisoners.
Resistance Operations
The Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, announced that they had launched a missile attack on Tel Aviv in response to Israeli massacres in Gaza. Sirens were heard in Greater Tel Aviv and the city of Rishon LeZion, and explosions and missile interceptions were observed. The Al-Qassam Brigades also targeted an Israeli tank and jeep, causing casualties. The Al-Quds Brigades, the military arm of the Islamic Jihad movement, reported clashes in the Shujaiya neighborhood and bombings of Israeli army crowds.
Israeli Losses
Israeli media reported that 4 members of the elite forces were among the 9 Israeli officers and soldiers killed in the past 24 hours. The Israeli army confirmed the deaths of an officer and two soldiers from the "Yahloum" unit in battles in the south and north of the Gaza Strip.
The Latest Updates on the Israeli War on Gaza
Israeli Soldiers Injured in Clashes
The Israeli army has confirmed that 29 soldiers were injured in battles with Palestinian resistance groups in various areas of the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours.
According to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, more than 2,800 soldiers are currently receiving treatment in the rehabilitation department of the Ministry of Defense since the beginning of the war on Gaza.
Truce and Detainees
Israeli President Isaac Herzog has expressed readiness for another truce in Gaza to allow the release of more Israeli detainees.
The US State Department has stated that an extended humanitarian truce in the Gaza Strip could be achieved if Hamas agrees to release the Israeli detainees.
The US Department also affirmed its commitment to meeting the humanitarian needs of the people of Gaza and is actively working towards resolving outstanding issues regarding a draft resolution on Gaza in the Security Council.
President Joe Biden believes that it is time to conclude an exchange deal and prioritize the return of the kidnapped individuals, according to American officials quoted by the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth.
Border Clashes with Lebanon
Hezbollah announced that it targeted an Israeli tank near the Al-Malikiyah site, resulting in its destruction and the killing and injuring of those inside.
The Lebanese party also reported the killing of two of its members in ongoing cross-border confrontations with the Israeli army.
On the other hand, the Israeli occupation army conducted airstrikes on Hezbollah's military sites and infrastructure in southern Lebanon.
Axios reported that American officials are attempting to reach a diplomatic solution between Lebanon and Israel, but progress has been limited so far.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Galant informed Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin that Tel Aviv is willing to give diplomacy a chance if progress is made within weeks.
Multinational Force in the Red Sea
The US Secretary of Defense announced the formation of a multinational force to protect trade in the Red Sea following Houthi attacks.
Participating countries include Britain, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles, and Spain. They will conduct joint patrols in the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
In recent incidents, the Houthis targeted two commercial ships in the south of the Red Sea. The oil tanker Swan Atlantic was attacked by a drone and an anti-ship ballistic missile, while the cargo ship Clara reported an explosion nearby. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in either incident.
Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdel Salam stated that they only target ships heading to Israel, emphasizing the need to increase pressure on Tel Aviv to stop its aggression and lift the siege on Gaza.
Source: Al Jazeera
