The Israeli Defense Forces announced the death of a soldier and serious injury to another paratrooper during battles in southern Gaza Strip. This incident increases the total number of military casualties for Israel since October 7 to 572, according to the latest official count. In related developments, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after a phone call with US President Joe Biden, asserted that Israel would not succumb to pressures to accept a Palestinian state. This conversation, reported by Times of Israel and Jerusalem Post, marks the second phone call between the two leaders within a week amidst tensions over Gaza and a pending deal with Hamas regarding prisoners and detainees.
The recent situation in Gaza has escalated into one of the deadliest conflicts of the 21st century, according to Oxfam. The conflict has seen a significant number of casualties, with Al Jazeera reporting that as of February 12, at least 28,340 people have been killed in Gaza, including over 12,150 children and 8,300 women. Injuries have surpassed 67,984, affecting thousands of children and women. The conflict has also led to more than 7,000 people being reported missing. In contrast, Israel has revised its death toll to approximately 1,139, with at least 8,730 injuries.
The United Nations General Assembly has voted by a large majority for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire during an emergency session. However, the resolution does not specifically condemn Hamas or refer to the group. This has led to criticism from Israel’s Permanent Representative, who argued that the resolution’s failure to condemn Hamas would only prolong death and destruction in the region.
Amidst these tensions, the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, with a significant portion of the population struggling with the aftermath of continuous strikes and military operations. The conflict has inflicted widespread devastation across Gaza, damaging more than half of the residential units, educational facilities, and healthcare infrastructure. The blockade, maintained by Israel since 2007, has further exacerbated the dire conditions, restricting the movement of goods and people in and out of Gaza, contributing to a collapsed telecommunications infrastructure and limited access to essential services.
