In the midst of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, the Hamas’ armed wing, al-Qassam Brigades, has reported that Israel’s recent airstrikes on the Jabalia refugee camp resulted in the tragic deaths of 7 hostages, including three individuals holding foreign passports.
The hostilities escalated when, on October 7, Hamas militants stormed Israeli cities, leading to the tragic loss of 1,400 lives, including women and children. During these events, Hamas took approximately 240 people hostage. In a more recent development, Hamas released four civilians, among them two American citizens, and Israeli forces managed to rescue a soldier held by Hamas.
Israel, on the other hand, has claimed that the airstrike in Jabalia eliminated a Hamas commander. However, Hamas has denied that any of its military leaders were killed in the attack. Meanwhile, Palestinian authorities have reported the deaths of 50 civilians in the airstrike, highlighting the ongoing toll the conflict is taking on innocent lives.
Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, declared on Wednesday that the nation’s conflict with Hamas would persist despite the “painful losses” in ground fighting within the Gaza Strip. He acknowledged the sacrifices made by Israeli soldiers and emphasized the importance of their mission.
“We have so many important achievements, but also painful losses. We know that every soldier of ours is an entire world,” Netanyahu stated in a televised address after the army confirmed at least 11 soldiers were killed in ground fighting on Tuesday. “We will continue until victory,” he added, underlining Israel’s commitment to its objectives.
In the midst of the ongoing crisis, a number of foreigners and critically wounded individuals are being released by Hamas as part of a Qatar-brokered deal. Meanwhile, Palestinian telecommunications provider Paltel reported that communications and internet services were disrupted on Wednesday, further complicating the situation for residents in the region.
After weeks of intense bombardment, Israel deployed its ground forces into the Gaza Strip and has vowed to eliminate Hamas. The retaliatory actions have resulted in a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with over 8,500 Palestinians, including 3,542 children, reported dead since the conflict’s outbreak on October 7. Humanitarian assistance has also been severely restricted due to the ongoing hostilities. The situation remains volatile and continues to draw international concern.
Sources By Agencies
