Hamas Attack Kills Israeli Soldiers Amidst Humanitarian Crisis
In a devastating turn of events, seven Israeli soldiers were killed in southern Gaza, marking one of the deadliest attacks in months. Simultaneously, escalating violence has resulted in numerous Palestinian casualties, compounding the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region.
Deadly Attack in Khan Younis
On Tuesday, militants planted a bomb on a vehicle in Khan Younis, which caused it to ignite. The Israeli military confirmed the deaths of seven soldiers from the 605th combat engineering battalion in the attack, for which Hamas claimed responsibility. Rescue attempts were unsuccessful, according to Israeli army spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin.
The attack has brought the total number of Israeli soldiers killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023, to 879. Furthermore, since the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on the same date, over 56,000 people, mainly civilians, have been killed in Gaza by Israeli attacks, according to local health authorities.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
At least 40 Palestinians seeking aid in Gaza were reportedly shot by Israeli forces on Tuesday, according to medical officials. Conditions have drastically worsened since the fighting started in March. Humanitarian aid has been restricted, leading to famine-like circumstances. Unicef warned that 60% of water production facilities in Gaza are non-functional.
More than 500 people have been killed as they attempted to obtain food from the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a US- and Israel-backed entity. The GHF has drawn criticism, with some groups alleging violations of humanitarian principles. The escalating violence and lack of aid have created dire circumstances for civilians in Gaza.
The situation has led to severe consequences for children. According to a recent report, there was a 50% increase in acute child malnutrition from April to May. (UNICEF, 2024)
Political Reactions and Ceasefire Efforts
US President Donald Trump stated that US strikes on Iran could facilitate progress in Gaza ceasefire negotiations. He made the remarks at a NATO summit in the Netherlands, suggesting that the attacks had demonstrated strength and could lead to positive developments.
“I think great progress is being made on Gaza. Because of the attack that we made, I think we’re going to have some very good news. I think that it helped a little bit, it showed a lot of power,”
—Donald Trump, US President
There are internal calls within Israel for a ceasefire, with officials and media personalities encouraging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to end the war. Moshe Gafni, a member of the Israeli Knesset, criticized the ongoing conflict, while other, more right-wing members of the Israeli government oppose the ceasefire calls.
The last US ceasefire draft proposed a 60-day pause in fighting and efforts toward long-term peace. It would also include the release of hostages. However, Hamas has proposed releasing fewer hostages and demanded a permanent end to the war in the ceasefire agreement.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum has called for the ceasefire with Iran to extend to Gaza. The forum has urged the government to negotiate for the hostages’ release and end the war.
