Israel endangers the lives of captives held by Hamas
In the ongoing Middle East crisis, the military offensive in Gaza, ordered by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, aims to dismantle one of the last strongholds of Hamas and secure the release of hostages. As of now, there are 48 hostages reportedly held in the Gaza Strip, with 20 of them believed to still be alive.
The Israeli army has been relentless in its operations, attacking over 1,200 targets in Gaza during the offensive. Despite heavy bombardments and intense fighting, Hamas still maintains a presence, with several dozen fighters reportedly remaining in the Rafah area.
The ground offensive has forced more than 450,000 Palestinian residents to flee the city of Gaza. The Israeli army is allowing the population to seek safety in a humanitarian zone in the south.
The conflict has not been confined to the Gaza Strip. Two more Israeli soldiers were killed on Thursday in an attack at a border crossing between Jordan and the West Bank. The Jordanian attacker, who reportedly arrived in a truck carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza, was subsequently 'neutralized' by security forces, a term usually referring to the death of the individual.
The international community has not been silent in the face of the escalating violence. Jordan has launched investigations into the incident, and France will officially recognize a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly next week. French President Emmanuel Macron has expressed concern over Israel's reputation due to the country's military actions and the resulting civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip.
The United Nations Security Council has also weighed in on the matter. Besides Israel, the states that opposed the US veto on the UN Security Council resolution to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza were the ten non-permanent members of the Security Council at that time. Fourteen of the 15 members voted in favor, with only the US against.
The situation on the ground remains volatile. Hamas has threatened the Israeli army, stating that Gaza will be a graveyard for their soldiers. The militant group allegedly distributed hostages abducted from Israel across several neighborhoods of Gaza City. In the Rafah area, four Israeli soldiers were killed and three others injured in a bomb attack.
As the conflict continues to unfold, two divisions of Israeli troops are currently in action, with another one expected to join in the coming days. Each division consists of approximately 10,000 to 15,000 soldiers. Amidst the calls for a ceasefire and the ongoing fighting, the future of the Gaza Strip remains uncertain.
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