At least 9,227 Palestinians, including 3,826 children, have been killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza since 7 October, the Hamas-run health ministry in the territory said on Friday.
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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Tel Aviv on Friday with the objective of advocating for humanitarian pauses in the ongoing Gaza conflict to allow aid to reach the area. This comes after Israel reported that its troops had encircled the largest city in the Palestinian enclave, a focal point in its efforts to eliminate Hamas.
The Gaza Strip has witnessed a devastating toll, with the Hamas-run health ministry reporting that at least 9,227 Palestinians, including 3,826 children, have been killed in Israeli airstrikes since October 7. On that day, a Hamas attack resulted in over 1,400 Israeli casualties, with more than 240 Israelis being held hostage in Gaza.
Throughout the night, Israeli forces continued their bombardment of Gaza from land, sea, and air, raising global concerns about the dire conditions within the besieged territory and the escalating civilian casualties.
Israel has initiated a crackdown on Palestinian workers and laborers who previously held permits to work in Israel and the occupied West Bank. Many of these workers have been sent back to Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing, located east of the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza. The workers, who used to provide their labor in various sectors for low wages, have expressed their frustration at the sudden change in policy.
Israel had previously issued more than 18,000 permits allowing Gazans to work in Israel and the West Bank, offering economic incentives to promote stability. However, the recent shift in policy has seen Israel launch an extensive air and ground offensive aimed at eradicating the militant Hamas movement that controls Gaza.
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The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is alarming, with nearly 1.5 million people, more than half of the territory’s population, displaced from their homes. Many have sought shelter in UN-run facilities, and on November 2, four UNRWA shelters were struck, resulting in casualties.
Israel has urged civilians in north Gaza, where Hamas’ forces are concentrated, to relocate to the south for their safety. However, even the southern areas have been subjected to Israeli airstrikes, causing harm to non-combatants. The situation in Gaza remains highly volatile and challenging.
