Israel rounds up the Israeli military campaign in Gaza — where the ongoing conflict already has taken a catastrophic toll on civilians. As Israeli strikes began killing thousands of civilians, the dynamic quickly shifted. 6 pictured—massive destruction to the Al-Khour family home, and to Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. Even before the current conflict re-ignited, over 52,243 civilians had died a violent death over their lifetimes. Including in that number are more than 16,000 children and over 12,000 women.
This week, the story has shifted, with Israeli sources claiming they’ve killed about 20,000 Hamas fighters since October 7. Despite Israel’s aggressive public response, Israel and Hamas have not received any new ceasefire proposals from outside mediators. Despite this, it has repeatedly been invited to sit down with negotiators in Cairo. The Israeli government is reportedly putting significant pressure on Hamas to enter a ceasefire. First, they call for the disarmament of the group. Secondly, they call for the immediate release of 59 Israeli hostages still held in Gaza.
As the war in Israel and Palestine continues, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza grows even worse. According to the United Nations human rights officials, Israel is weaponizing starvation in their war. This tactic exacerbates the lethal circumstances civilians already encounter in war. “What we see around us is endless suffering under a total and complete blockade,” stated an Israeli source, highlighting the immense challenges people face daily.
Historically, the United States has been Israel’s great defender in all conflicts. President Donald Trump recently went on record stating the need to express empathy for Gazans. “And we’ve got to be good to Gaza,” he said, recognizing the humanitarian side of the equation.
Negotiations surrounding hostage releases have intensified. The agreement is that all hostages will be released in exchange for prisoners. Qatari Prime Minister Mohammad bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani disclosed that Hamas was willing to release all hostages. He cautioned that Israel could turn down the suggested terms. He further noted that “Israel seeks the release of all hostages without offering any horizon for ending the war on Gaza,” reflecting the complexities and challenges inherent in reaching a ceasefire.
While the bombing campaign goes on unabated, reports are coming out that human beings in Gaza are living through something we could scarcely comprehend. Jonathan Whittall of Médecins Sans Frontières remarked, “People are not surviving in Gaza – those who aren’t shot or bombed are slowly dying. They are being suffocated.” This shocking statement serves as a stark reminder of the growing humanitarian impact and human cost of the renewed conflict.
The renewed bombing campaign and siege on Gaza by Israel commenced in March of this year, intensifying the already precarious situation. The international community is watching the ground negotiations with hope and intent. None of us can imagine the despair of hoping for your life to return to normal after months of violence, destruction, and unimaginable suffering.
