An update from the Gaza Health Ministry says the toll of casualties resulting from Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has soared to alarming heights. The ministry reported that at least 34,735 Palestinians have lost their lives, with a staggering 78,108 individuals sustaining injuries since the commencement of the offensive on October 7.
The ongoing conflict, which has intensified in recent months, continues to exact a heavy toll on civilians, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian situation in the region. Amid the escalating violence, efforts to broker a ceasefire and initiate peace talks have faced numerous challenges.
The armed conflict, primarily between Israeli forces and Hamas-led Palestinian militant groups, has ravaged communities in and around the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023. The international community has been urged to redouble its efforts to facilitate dialogue and pursue a peaceful resolution to the longstanding Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Additionally, reports indicate that the displacement crisis in Gaza has reached critical levels, with approximately 80,000 Palestinians forced to flee their homes in Rafah since May 6. The mass displacement further compounds the humanitarian challenges facing the region, highlighting the urgent need for coordinated humanitarian assistance and diplomatic intervention.
President Joe Biden publicly warned Israel on Wednesday for the first time that the US would stop supplying its weapons if Israeli forces made a major invasion of Rafah, a refugee-packed city in southern Gaza.
“I made it clear that if they go into Rafah… I’m not supplying the weapons that have been used historically to deal with Rafah, to deal with the cities—that deal with that problem,” Biden said in an interview with CNN.