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Gaza’s health ministry reported on Monday that more than 5,000 people have lost their lives in the besieged Palestinian territory since Israel initiated its extensive bombing campaign over two weeks ago.
Concerns have escalated about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, triggered by the conflict that began on October 7 when Hamas launched an attack. Israeli officials claim that more than 1,400 individuals were killed during this attack, with some being shot, stabbed, or burned by Islamist militants. Additionally, more than 200 people were taken hostage by Hamas.
As Israel’s military reported over 300 new airstrikes within a 24-hour period, Gaza’s health ministry indicated that the death toll had risen to over 5,000, with approximately 40% of the victims being children.
Thousands of buildings have been destroyed, and over a million people have been displaced in the region, which has been under siege and has experienced severe shortages of water, food, and other essential supplies.
On Monday, around a dozen trucks carrying much-needed aid entered Gaza from Egypt through Rafah, the only crossing not under Israeli control. The United States, which facilitated the entry of these aid convoys, pledged to maintain a steady supply of relief supplies to Gaza, even though UN aid agencies have stressed the need for much more support.
Fighting continued overnight, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirming his commitment to “erasing Hamas,” while a full-scale ground invasion appeared imminent.
Gaza’s government media office under Hamas reported that “more than 60 people were martyred in the airstrikes” overnight, including 17 in a single strike that hit a house in northern Gaza. Additionally, at least 10 more people were killed in new strikes early on Monday.
The Israeli military confirmed that it had targeted “over 320 military objectives in the Gaza Strip” in the past 24 hours. These targets included tunnels containing Hamas militants, multiple operational command centers, military compounds, and observation posts used by Islamic Jihad, another militant group.
