Israeli forces extended their control
across most parts of the Gaza Strip on Sunday, following the termination of a
week-long truce by Tel Aviv. Chief of General Staff Herzi Halevi confirmed the
operation, with tanks and soldiers observed in both north and south Gaza over
the weekend.
The death toll from Israel's continuous
bombings has now surpassed 15,500, with over 700 Palestinians reportedly killed
after the truce ended. Tragically, this includes 280 medical staff,
highlighting the devastating impact on essential services. The United Nations
High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, expressed deep concern over
the confinement of hundreds of thousands of Gazans into increasingly smaller
areas in the southern part of the territory. He emphasized the lack of safe
places in Gaza.
On Saturday, two incidents in northern Gaza
led to at least 160 Palestinian deaths, with bombings targeting a six-story
building in Jabalia refugee camp and an entire block in Gaza City, according to
UN-OCHA. The agency estimated that approximately 1.8 million people in Gaza,
roughly 75% of the population, have been displaced, often forced into
overcrowded and unsanitary shelters.
Amid the chaos, heartbreaking stories
emerged, such as Jumana Murad's account of her son Mohammad's death while
assisting women and children in a school tent. Hospitals, particularly in
southern Gaza, are overwhelmed, with patients treated on the floor in
conditions described by WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus as
"unimaginable for the provision of health care."
A WHO team visiting Nasser hospital found
it three times over capacity, with patients in agonizing pain and countless
people seeking shelter. Conditions for Gazans are dire, lacking food, water,
and essential supplies. Adnan Abu Hasna, a spokesman for the UN agency for
Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, emphasized that the aid reaching them is
insufficient.
As the conflict intensifies, Israeli air
and artillery strikes struck Gaza's northern frontier on Sunday. The Israeli
military claimed to have located over 800 Hamas tunnels and destroyed about
500, stating that many were near or inside civilian structures.
Simultaneously, fighting erupted on
Israel's northern border with Lebanon, prompting Israeli artillery strikes in
response to cross-border fire. Fighter jets targeted Hezbollah-linked sites. In
the south, Hamas reported clashes with Israeli troops near Khan Yunis, raising
concerns about a potential new Israeli ground offensive.
The situation remains grim, with Gazans
facing a dire humanitarian crisis amid the ongoing violence and destruction.
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