"Gaza Tragedy Mounts: Death Toll Soars Past 70,000 as Ceasefire Holds"
A devastating new toll has emerged from Gaza's besieged territory, where the death count has surpassed 70,000 since the conflict with Israel began nearly two months ago. The Palestinian Health Ministry reported a staggering figure of 70,100 fatalities on Saturday, while Israeli forces carried out strikes in the region, sparking concerns over ongoing ceasefire breaches.
Eyewitnesses at Nasser hospital confirmed that two Palestinian children, aged 8 and 11, were killed when an Israeli drone struck close to a school sheltering displaced people in the town of Beni Suheila. The Israeli military claimed that its forces had neutralized "suspicious individuals" who entered an Israeli-controlled area, with no mention of the children.
The conflict began on October 7th with Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel, resulting in over 1,200 deaths and 250 hostages. Most of the hostages have since been released or returned in exchange for other concessions.
Despite a ceasefire that took effect on October 10th, Israeli forces continue to carry out strikes in response to what they claim are truce violations by Hamas militants. The health ministry has reported at least 352 Palestinians killed across Gaza since the ceasefire began, with the Palestinian government stating that it does not differentiate between civilian and combatant casualties.
The international community remains increasingly concerned about the ongoing violence, with a US blueprint outlining a possible future for Gaza stalled in its early stages. The plan calls for an international stabilization force to provide security, approval of a transitional authority overseen by the US president, and envisions a possible path to an independent Palestinian state.
Meanwhile, tensions have flared in other parts of the region. Syrian officials reported that Israeli forces raided a village on Friday, killing at least 13 people, while Israel claimed it was conducting an operation to apprehend suspects linked to militant groups planning attacks in Israel.
Hezbollah has denounced what it calls "aggression" and called on Pope Leo XIV to reject injustice during his recent visit to the region. In the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Palestinian eyewitnesses reported that Israeli soldiers executed two men after footage showed them appearing to surrender, while settler violence continues to rise, with 10 Palestinians injured in recent attacks.
The Gaza crisis has left thousands without access to basic necessities like food, water, and healthcare, as the international community struggles to find a peaceful resolution.
A devastating new toll has emerged from Gaza's besieged territory, where the death count has surpassed 70,000 since the conflict with Israel began nearly two months ago. The Palestinian Health Ministry reported a staggering figure of 70,100 fatalities on Saturday, while Israeli forces carried out strikes in the region, sparking concerns over ongoing ceasefire breaches.
Eyewitnesses at Nasser hospital confirmed that two Palestinian children, aged 8 and 11, were killed when an Israeli drone struck close to a school sheltering displaced people in the town of Beni Suheila. The Israeli military claimed that its forces had neutralized "suspicious individuals" who entered an Israeli-controlled area, with no mention of the children.
The conflict began on October 7th with Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel, resulting in over 1,200 deaths and 250 hostages. Most of the hostages have since been released or returned in exchange for other concessions.
Despite a ceasefire that took effect on October 10th, Israeli forces continue to carry out strikes in response to what they claim are truce violations by Hamas militants. The health ministry has reported at least 352 Palestinians killed across Gaza since the ceasefire began, with the Palestinian government stating that it does not differentiate between civilian and combatant casualties.
The international community remains increasingly concerned about the ongoing violence, with a US blueprint outlining a possible future for Gaza stalled in its early stages. The plan calls for an international stabilization force to provide security, approval of a transitional authority overseen by the US president, and envisions a possible path to an independent Palestinian state.
Meanwhile, tensions have flared in other parts of the region. Syrian officials reported that Israeli forces raided a village on Friday, killing at least 13 people, while Israel claimed it was conducting an operation to apprehend suspects linked to militant groups planning attacks in Israel.
Hezbollah has denounced what it calls "aggression" and called on Pope Leo XIV to reject injustice during his recent visit to the region. In the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Palestinian eyewitnesses reported that Israeli soldiers executed two men after footage showed them appearing to surrender, while settler violence continues to rise, with 10 Palestinians injured in recent attacks.
The Gaza crisis has left thousands without access to basic necessities like food, water, and healthcare, as the international community struggles to find a peaceful resolution.