No solution in sight yet for Gaza conflict
Casualties rise as intl calls grow for end to hostilities between Palestine, Israel
GAZA/JERUSALEM — The Israel-Hamas conflict reached a grim milestone of 100 days on Sunday, with more civilian deaths in Gaza, and relatives of dozens of hostages still awaiting their freedom.
There were also casualties in the West Bank and on the Israel-Lebanon border.
Tens of thousands of families in both Palestine and Israel are still grieving the loss of their loved ones.
Despite the repeated calls from the international community for an end to the ongoing violence and a return to peace, the Israel-Hamas conflict, which has shaken the Middle East’s geopolitical landscape, shows no signs of abating anytime soon.
The conflict, sparked by unprecedented attacks on Israel, has created a humanitarian catastrophe for the 2.3 million people in Hamas-ruled Gaza, the United Nations and aid groups warned.
The Palestinian death toll from Israeli attacks has exceeded 24,000, the Gaza-based Health Ministry said on Monday. Israel said the Hamas assault has killed more than 1,200 people.
“It’s been 100 days and our situation is very bad,” said Mohammad Kahil, displaced to Rafah, in southern Gaza near Egypt, from the territory’s north.
“There’s no food, no water, no heating. We are dying from the cold.”
Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, said diseases were spreading with “the clock ticking fast toward famine”.
Violence involving militant groups in Yemen, Lebanon, Iraq and Syria has surged since the conflict in Gaza began in early October.
With fears growing of a wider conflict in the Middle East, the US Navy air force shot down an antiship cruise missile fired by the Houthis in Yemen toward a navy battleship, the US Central Command said in a statement.
The missile, which was fired at approximately 4:45 pm on Sunday toward a destroyer of the US Navy operating in the southern Red Sea, was intercepted in the vicinity of the coast of Hodeidah by US fighter aircraft, it said, adding that no injuries or damage were reported.
Nearly at the same time on Sunday, the Houthis claimed that a warplane of the US-Britain maritime coalition hit a camp of the group in northern Hodeidah port city. But US officials reportedly denied the allegation.
The Houthis have escalated their attacks in the Red Sea since the Israel-Hamas conflict flared up. They said the attacks targeted Israel-linked commercial ships in a bid to pressure Israel to end the conflict and siege of the Palestinian enclave of the Gaza Strip.
In the latest fighting in Gaza, the Hamas-affiliated Palestinian Press Agency SAFA reported on Monday that Israeli aircraft and artillery were bombarding the Khan Younis area in the southern part of the enclave.
In a statement, the Israeli military said it killed two Palestinian fighters in an airstrike on their vehicle which was transporting weapons in Khan Younis and also raided a Hamas command center in the city.
Differences seen
The White House said on Sunday that “it’s the right time” for Israel to scale back its military offensive in the Gaza Strip, as Israeli leaders again vowed to press ahead with their operation.
The comments exposed the growing differences between the close allies, The Associated Press reported.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has brushed off calls for a cease-fire, saying Israel will keep going until “total victory” is achieved.
During his weekly cabinet meeting, Netanyahu presented a 2024 budget proposal to his government, seeking approval for a plan that involves tax hikes and the implementation of a uniform 3 percent reduction in the budgets of all government ministries to secure funding for its ongoing fight against Hamas.
His remarks came as Israel awaited a ruling by the International Court of Justice in The Hague, with a possible decision against its massive and crippling offensive in Gaza.
Since Saturday, thousands of Israelis have rallied in Tel Aviv and other major cities, calling for the return of the hostages and the replacement of the government.
Hamas on Sunday aired a video showing three Israeli hostages it is holding in Gaza and urged the Israeli government to stop the offensive against the group.
On Sunday, from Berlin to London and Limassol to Karachi, tens of thousands of people took to the streets to mark the 100th day of the conflict. Demonstrations either demanded the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas or called for a cease-fire in Gaza.
In the heart of London, thousands of people chanted “Bring them home now” in a demonstration to demand the freedom of the remaining hostages.