Over 100 individuals have been killed in a renewed spate of Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip. The airstrikes began late Sunday and carried over into Monday, targeting what the Israeli military called “terrorist targets and weapons caches” used by Hamas and other militant organizations.
Residents reported hearing deafening explosions across densely packed areas, with entire buildings flattened to the ground. Hospitals in Gaza are full as rescue personnel dig through piles of rubble in search of survivors.
The aerial assault is the culmination of years of fighting between Israeli troops and Palestinian militants, which have claimed thousands of lives in the long run.
Flashback:
Israel-Hamas tensions escalated in October 2023 when Hamas militants carried out a surprise attack that led to one of the deadliest flare-ups on record. The attack killed over 1,200 Israelis and ignited large-scale Israeli military retaliation. Since then, numerous attempts at a ceasefire have failed as both sides blamed each other for violating it.
Most of the victims in the latest attack were civilians, ranging from women to children, reported Gaza’s Health Ministry. Civilians’ homes and shelters were hit, contrary to Israel’s assertion that it only strikes military centers.
The Israeli military released aerial video of explosions at what they referred to as rocket launch sites and weapons warehouses. They assert the offensive was initiated to put an end to renewed rocket attacks into Israeli cities.
Meanwhile, relief groups are calling for the violence to stop immediately. They indicate Gaza’s medical infrastructure on the brink of collapse, with medicine, fuel, and clean water supplies running short by the hour.
World leaders reacted in alarm. The United Nations is convening an emergency meeting, while countries like Turkey, Egypt, and Qatar are calling for fresh peace talks.
Despite global pressure, both remain firm. Israel continues to press on with its military onslaught until Hamas is “neutralized,” while Palestinian militant organizations declare that they will struggle “until the blockade is lifted.”
In conclusion, the rising fatalities and destruction in Gaza is another bleak page in the constantly deteriorating conflict. There is no ceasefire on the horizon, and the world looks on as innocent civilians suffer the majority of the war.
