Israel's indiscriminate killing continues in the blockaded Gaza Strip under the guise of dismantling Hamas and rescuing hostages held by them. Israeli forces are escalating their attacks daily, leading to an ever-growing number of casualties.
No place remains safe for the residents of Gaza. With aerial and ground offensives on one hand and the cessation of aid delivery on the other, Gaza has become a living hell for its inhabitants.
Meanwhile, the Netanyahu administration has decided to further escalate the military operation in Gaza. A related plan has already been approved by the Israeli security cabinet and is now awaiting full cabinet approval, which is considered a matter of time.
In the latest development, occupying forces killed at least 40 more Palestinians in Gaza in the past 24 hours. This brings the total death toll from the ongoing Israeli aggression in the besieged enclave since October 7, 2023, to over 52,500.
Al Jazeera reported this information on Sunday (May 4th).
According to the Qatar-based news outlet's report, medical and civil defense sources stated that 39 Palestinians, including three children, were killed in Israeli attacks across Gaza on Saturday.
In another statement, the Gaza Health Ministry said that over a hundred Palestinians have been killed and more than three hundred injured in Israeli attacks on Gaza in the past 48 hours. Consequently, more than 118,400 people have been injured in the territory during the occupying forces' attacks over the past approximately 17 months.
The Israeli forces launched a devastating operation in Gaza on October 7, 2023, in response to an attack by Hamas. After a 15-month military campaign, Israel agreed to a ceasefire in Gaza on January 19 under pressure from the United States and the international community. Relative peace prevailed in Gaza for about two months thereafter.
However, due to Hamas's disagreement over the withdrawal of troops from Gaza, Israel resumed airstrikes in the third week of March.
According to the Health Ministry's data, at least 2,400 Palestinians have been killed and another 6,325 injured in the renewed Israeli airstrikes in Gaza that began on March 18. This brutal Israeli offensive has shattered the ceasefire agreement that came into effect in January of this year.
Egypt and Qatar are continuing their efforts to reinstate the ceasefire. However, neither Israel nor Hamas has retreated from their core demands. Both sides blame each other for the failure to reach a viable agreement.
Israel states that 59 Israelis are still held hostage in Gaza and that no agreement is possible unless Hamas is disarmed and completely removed from governing Gaza in the future. On the other hand, Hamas demands a permanent ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces before any further prisoner exchange agreement can be made.
In a statement released by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office, Hamas was blamed for the lack of progress on an agreement, stating that they had not rejected the Egyptian proposal, but rather that Hamas was creating obstacles to reaching a deal.
Under these circumstances, the Netanyahu administration has decided to further escalate the military operation in Gaza. Citing an unnamed Israeli official, local news outlet Ynet reported that Israel will continue to intensify its military operations in Gaza as long as Hamas does not release the hostages.
Earlier, on Thursday (May 1st), Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, "We are trying to bring back the hostages. However, our ultimate goal in Gaza is to defeat Hamas."
