With over 700 people killed in one night, Gaza witnessed the ‘bloodiest night’ in the ongoing war on Tuesday as Israel intensified its operation on the sixteenth day. The death toll overnight has been termed as the record-highest since the war started on October 7. While the Israeli military claims to have hit over 400 Hamas targets, killing dozens of militants, the attacks also hit Jabalia and Beit Lahia in the north, Al Wusta and Al Rimal neighbourhood, Al Shati camp in the west, and Khan Younis and Rafah in the south, within a space of 24 hours, crushing families in the rubble of residential buildings. Israel reported 320 strikes the day before.
Many of those killed are women and children. Health officials reiterated that medical facilities continue to remain shut because of infrastructural damage and lack of power.
The soaring death toll from the ongoing bombardment is unprecedented in the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict. An even greater loss of life is expected in Gaza once Israeli forces backed by tanks and artillery launch the planned ground offensive aimed at crushing the Hamas militant group, which launched an unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7.In its bid to scoop out Hamas militants, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have issued a statement urging the people of Gaza to give information on the whereabouts of militants against a warning and reward. "If your will is to live in peace and to have a better future for your children, do the humanitarian deed immediately and share verified and valuable information about hostages being held in your area,” said the IDF, adding, "The Israeli military assures you that it will invest maximum effort in providing security for you and your home, and you will receive a financial reward. We guarantee you complete confidentiality.”
Israel, for its part, has vowed repeatedly since the massacre to crush Hamas.
Meanwhile, Hamas has released two Israeli elderly hostages, one of whom narrated her ‘hellish’ experience of being taken captive. She narrated how she was beaten up by the militants but later the hostages were apparently treated “gently”. Hamas still has more than 220 Israeli hostages. Hamas is expected to release 50 more hostages further soon.However, the focus does not shift from the dead lying beneath the rubble in Gaza. Across central and southern Gaza, where Israel has called on Gaza civilians to take shelter, bodies continue to be pulled out from the rubble. Horrifying graphic videos show headless children and parents running around with torn body parts of their children, in a frantic search. Buildings that collapse, kill dozens of people together.
As the death toll in Gaza mounts and fuel supplies dwindle, the number of facilities able to deal with casualties is shrinking. More than half of primary healthcare facilities, and roughly 1 of every 3 hospitals, have stopped functioning, the World Health Organization said. Health workers continue to struggle to treat as the waves of wounded don’t seem to stop.
But Israel says it does not target civilians and that Hamas militants are using them as cover for their attacks. With the US rejecting majoritarian calls for a ceasefire, the humanitarian crisis continues to deepen in Gaza.
In this context, Outlook continues to delve deeper into the complex history of the Israel-Palestine conflict and the many nuances dotting it - from who serves the Israel Defence Force, understanding the key players of the Oslo agreement, to art that portrays the sufferings of Palestinians, and many more.
