📷 Image Credits: India Today
The Israel-Hamas conflict has escalated, resulting in the deaths of at least 42 people in Gaza City on Saturday. The director of the Hamas-run government media office reported the casualties from the Israeli attacks, which have intensified the ongoing conflict, leading to heavy casualties and worsening humanitarian conditions in the Palestinian enclave.
The previous day saw strikes on a tent camp near Rafah, where 25 people were killed and 50 were injured. Israeli airstrikes on Saturday targeted two Hamas military sites in Gaza City, claiming 24 lives in the al-Shati refugee camp and 18 lives in the Tuffah neighbourhood. The Israeli military confirmed the strikes, stating they were aimed at Hamas military infrastructure.
Tens of thousands of protesters rallied in Tel Aviv, demanding new elections and the return of hostages held in Gaza. Many criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government for its handling of the conflict with Hamas. The protest in Tel Aviv, estimated to have over 150,000 attendees, was the largest since the Gaza war began. Protesters waved Israeli flags, chanted slogans against Netanyahu, and held signs reading ‘Crime Minister’ and ‘Stop the War’.
In addition to the deaths in Gaza, Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin faced backlash after strapping a wounded Palestinian man to the hood of a military jeep during an arrest raid. The incident was captured on video and shared on social media, sparking outrage and condemnation. The Israeli military acknowledged the violation of protocol and stated that an investigation into the incident would be conducted.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas continues to escalate, with reports of deeper incursions by Israeli tanks into western and northern Rafah. Bombings have forced families to evacuate humanitarian-designated zones and move towards the north. The Israeli military claimed to be conducting ‘precise, intelligence-based’ targeted operations in Rafah, resulting in the killing of Palestinian gunmen and dismantling of military infrastructure.
