Gaza, home to about 2.1 million people, has been the focal point of escalating violence. Meanwhile, Israel’s military operations are intensifying with no signs of abating. Since June 13, Israeli bombardments have resulted in over 860 deaths, with the toll rising dramatically since October 7, 2023, when the Palestinian Ministry of Health reported that more than 55,000 individuals have been killed. Among these casualties, 17,500 of them are children, civilians are the majority affected by this conflict.
The conflict that began with revolutions across the region has continued to wreak humanitarian crisis after crisis. Since May 27, attacks on civilians have increased greatly. According to UN reports, more than 500 people have perished attempting to reach food distributions. Recently, the United Nations has sounded alarms about an imminent man-made famine in Gaza. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is claiming Israel’s actions constitute “a clear violation as a likely war crime.”
As violence drags on, hostages are one of the main features in dissociating dollars and sense from violence. According to the Israeli government, fifty of its citizens remain captives in Gaza, of which twenty are thought to be alive. This reality makes all the more complicated any efforts to bring resolution to the now decade-long conflict.
Very recently, Hamas officials have indicated that they would accept a truce along the lines of the United States’ proposal. They are calling for deeper commitments to stop hostilities. As the Prime Minister of Qatar declared, diplomatic negotiations are indeed “ongoing.” Consequently, both Qatar and Egypt are reportedly working to find a “compromise” between the opposing combatants on the suggested ceasefire.
Fighting in southern Gaza has increasingly escalated into urban warfare. One bomb fixed to a personnel carrier in Khan Younis killed seven Israeli soldiers, according to recent reports. The Israeli military collective punishment operations are not letting up even as international attention seems to be fading.
Philippe Lazzarini, has recently expressed extreme concern over the deteriorating situation for Palestinians. He remarked,
“Atrocities continue in Gaza while global attention shifts elsewhere.” – Philippe Lazzarini
Under the unrelenting violence, Gaza has been plunged into an abyss of despair for more than 20 months. Amidst this turmoil, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserted that recent successes against Iran contribute to their objectives in Gaza, stating,
“There is no doubt that our major achievements in Iran also contribute to our goals in Gaza.” – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
This mindset underlines the cumulative nature of all the conflicts currently engulfing Israel and suggests deeper global power moves in action.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum has expressed that a ceasefire with Iran could catalyze an end to hostilities in Gaza. They stated,
“Those who can achieve a ceasefire with Iran can also end the war in Gaza.” – The Hostages and Missing Families Forum
They rightly made it a priority to leverage any success achieved with regards to Iran to demand the release of hostages. Additionally, they warned that,
“To conclude this decisive operation against Iran without leveraging our success to bring home all the hostages would be a grave failure.” – The Hostages and Missing Families Forum
With negotiations ongoing and violence on the ground increasing by the minute, Gazans are facing a humanitarian catastrophe. The world is watching — and how. Humanitarian organizations are equally and urgently calling for action to address the hellish circumstances that civilians find themselves in. Since October more than 55 thousand have died. We must act, with the utmost urgency, for those who are suffering and to create the conditions for meaningful dialogue that can lead to peace.
