Israeli military actions and raids result in the loss of 39 lives, according to Civil Defense reports
In the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, the eastern and southern neighborhoods of Gaza, particularly Zeitoun, have been subjected to intense bombing for nearly a week. Hamas has accused the Zionist enemy of waging a sustained offensive in these areas [1].
Israel, on the other hand, has questioned the accuracy of the reported deaths, with the Israeli army accusing the institutions in Gaza of being controlled and directed by Hamas [2]. The army has also expressed doubts about the figures of deaths provided by the Civil Defense, stating that the institutions in Gaza are subject to Hamas' agenda [3].
Despite these accusations, assistance has been transferred via the Kerem Shalom crossing point by the UN and international organizations, following a thorough security inspection [4]. COGAT, an agency under the Ministry of Defense, has also announced that shelter equipment will be provided starting Sunday for the movement of population from combat zones to the southern part of Gaza Strip [5].
However, many civilians remain trapped amidst the conflict, with more than 50,000 people still residing in the Zeitoun neighborhood, most without water or food [6]. Ghassan Kashko, a resident of Gaza City, stated that his family has been living in a school turned into a shelter, with no more food or drinkable water [7].
The Civil Defense of Gaza has announced the death of 39 Palestinians, including children, in Israel's offensive on Gaza [8]. Israel's retaliatory offensive has resulted in at least 6,172 deaths, mostly civilians, according to data from the Hamas Ministry of Health. This data is deemed reliable by the UN [9].
The spokesman for Civil Defense, Mahmoud Bassal, has accused Israel of "ethnic cleansing" in Zeitoun and the neighboring neighborhood of Tal al-Hawa [10]. The Islamic movement has also accused Israel of committing crimes in broad daylight in the Gaza Strip [1].
Israel, however, has committed to reducing civilian damage during operational activities, in strict compliance with international law [11]. The Israeli army is also preparing to take control of Gaza City and neighboring refugee camps with the aim of defeating Hamas and freeing hostages kidnapped on October 7, 2023 [3].
Initial evacuation attempts by Israel occurred in October 2023, with evacuation orders dropped by Israel through leaflets and electronic communications, signaling for civilians to leave specific areas before full-scale invasion began [1]. However, the ongoing conflict resulted in extremely high civilian casualties, with tens of thousands killed and injured, indicating that large-scale effective evacuation was extremely limited or impossible for most civilians trapped in the Gaza Strip [1].
Between October 2023 and July 2025, over 7,500 Palestinians—including roughly 5,200 children—were medically evacuated abroad from Gaza, showing continued but limited humanitarian evacuation efforts during and after major hostilities [2]. Despite these medical evacuations, the overall humanitarian situation remains dire, with massive civilian harm and infrastructure damage.
As the conflict continues, the need for effective civilian evacuations and humanitarian aid remains critical. The ongoing accusations and counter-accusations between Israel and Hamas, as well as the high civilian death toll, highlight the urgent need for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
References: 1. Al Jazeera 2. UN OCHA 3. Haaretz 4. Ma'an News Agency 5. COGAT 6. Al Arabiya 7. The Jerusalem Post 8. Civil Defense of Gaza 9. UN OCHA 10. Al Jazeera 11. Israel Defense Forces
- Amidst the ongoing accusations between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza conflict, the politics surrounding the general-news reports have cast doubt on the accuracy of death tolls and the involvement of various institutions.
- Despite Israel's commitment to reduce civilian harm during operations, general-news reports suggest that a vast number of civilians remain trapped in combat zones like Zeitoun, facing critical shortages of food and water.
