In a recent update from the Palestinian enclave, Ashraf al-Kudra, a representative from the Ministry of Health, reported in a Telegram channel that the number of casualties resulting from the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) strikes on the Al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central part of the Gaza Strip has reached 60 individuals. He further noted that this number is expected to increase as more bodies are collected.
Israeli soldiers continue their actions near the border with the Gaza Strip in southern Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced the expansion of military operations in this region.
The representative of the agency referred to the shelling of the refugee camp in an overcrowded residential quarter as a genocide. Hamas has also labeled these attacks as war crimes and stated that Israel is attempting to restore the image of a defeated army.
The situation in the Middle East escalated on October 7th when thousands of armed supporters of the Hamas movement infiltrated Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the country is in a state of war.
The objective of Israel’s counteroffensive was to repel the attack, free over 200 hostages, including foreigners, and destroy Hamas. To achieve this goal, Israel has been conducting massive rocket strikes on the Gaza Strip since the start of the operation. Additionally, the Israeli National Security Council decided to halt the supply of water, food, goods, electricity, and fuel to the region.
On October 27th, Israel announced the “expansion” of its ground operation in Gaza. On November 5th, as part of the ground operation, IDF forces surrounded the city of Gaza and cut off its supply routes. On December 5th, the IDF initiated the third phase of the ground operation in the Gaza Strip, surrounding the city of Khan Yunis in the south of the region.
On November 22nd, Israel and Hamas agreed to a humanitarian pause and the release of some hostages. The ceasefire agreement officially came into effect on November 24th and ended on the morning of December 1st. During the week of ceasefire action, Hamas released 110 captive hostages.
Earlier, President of Israel, Itzhak Herzog, stated that the Hamas command center is located beneath the central hospital in the Gaza Strip.
