More than two dozen Gazans were killed in just 24 hours as Israel shows no let-up in attacks, also opening fire on Hezbollah in Lebnaon and targets in Syria as the Middle East conflict continues
At least 25 Palestinians were killed and 82 injured in Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip in the past 24 hours – as Israel continues its onslaught, according to local officials.
A family of six and Hamas spokesman Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua were among those killed as the militant group vowed to fight on despite the losses. One airstrike hit the tent where Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua was staying in the Jabaliya area of northern Gaza, killing him, according to Basem Naim, another Hamas official. Another strike near Gaza City killed four children and their parents, according to the emergency service of Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Israel ended its ceasefire with Hamas last week, launching a surprise wave of strikes that killed hundreds of Palestinians. It has vowed to escalate the offensive if Hamas does not release hostages, disarm and leave the territory. Hamas has said it will only release the remaining 59 hostages – 24 of whom are believed to be alive – in exchange for a lasting ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal.
In Lebanon, at least three people have been killed in an Israeli drone attack on a car in the southern town of Yohmor al-Shaqif. Israel has also claimed to have killed a Hezbollah commander in the area of Derdghaiya, also in southern Lebanon. And Israeli forces have continued their attacks on targets in Syria, launching several raids in and around the port city of Latakia, according to Syrian media.
This week there have been several protests within Gaza with hundreds of Palestinians chanting anti-war and anti-Hamas slogans. But demonstrations against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are also taking place, driven initially by protesters saying he is not trying to stop the war.
They say his decision to continue the attacks on Gaza is putting the remaining hostages at risk and that he needs to get them released at any cost. The PM is also under fire for trying to fire the head of Israeli intelligence agency Shin Bet Ronen Bar with whom he has had a public spat.
Netanyahu on Wednesday began interviewing candidates to replace Bar, who was formally fired last week but remains in his post. Following the government’s controversial vote to dismiss Bar, the Israeli High Court a freeze on the spy chief’s ouster but scrapped a prohibition on the premier talking to candidates for the agency’s leadership.
The Israeli PM insisted on trying for an extension to the initial ceasefire, whilst Hamas pressured negotiators to start talks for a phase two of the initial temporary peace deal, which could have led to the release of the remaining hostages.
Gaza’s Health Ministry says at least 50,208 Palestinians are confirmed dead and 113,910 wounded in Israel’s war on Gaza. Gaza’s Government Media Office updated its death toll more than 61,700, saying thousands of Palestinians missing under the rubble are presumed dead. At least 1,200people were killed in Israel during the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attacks and more than 200 were taken captive.