On Monday, December 4, 2023, Israel claimed to have killed a Hamas commander in an airstrike in Gaza. On October 7, 2023, the Israeli military identified the commander as Haitham Khuwajari, who oversaw the Shati brigade and gave orders to militants to launch assaults into Israel. Nonetheless, Hamas refuted the claim that any of its leaders perished in the attack, accusing Israel of attempting to legitimize its massacre of people within the Jabalya refugee camp.
The current uptick in violence, which began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an unexpected attack on Israel that resulted in the deaths of over 1,200 people and the kidnapping of almost 160 others, included the strike on Jabalya as one of the deadliest attacks.
Israel began a massive military offensive in Gaza shortly afterward, focusing on the infrastructure, command centers, and hiding places of Hamas. The Gaza Health Ministry has reported that over 15,000 Palestinians have lost their lives. Health professionals report that the situation in Gaza, where more than 1.8 million people have been displaced,
There has been no progress toward the peaceful settlement of the crisis, despite calls from the international community for an instant ceasefire. Humanitarian aid has been sent to the impacted populations in Gaza and Israel by the United Nations, the United States, and other nations; but, access to and distribution of the help have been impeded by the ongoing hostilities.
Death Toll In Israel And Gaza Conflict
As of December 4, 2023, the number of deaths resulting from the latest upsurge in conflict between Israel and Hamas has topped 17,000. As per the Gaza Health Ministry, over 15,000 Palestinians have been murdered by Israeli airstrikes and ground operations in the Gaza Strip, where Palestinians make up the majority of the deaths. About 1,200 Israelis have died as a result of the initial Hamas onslaught on October 7, 2023, and the ongoing rocket and mortar fire from Gaza. This number includes both troops and civilians. In addition, a few foreign nationals, journalists, and relief workers have lost their lives in the violence.
Despite pleas from throughout the world for a truce and a peaceful settlement, it is anticipated that the death toll will climb as long as hostilities continue. With so many people injured and displaced and limited access to food, water, energy, and medical supplies, Gaza’s humanitarian situation is dire. Damage and disruption have also been caused by the fighting in Israel, where a large number of Israelis live in constant fear of rocket launches and kidnappings.
