Israeli army fire in the occupied West Bank has led to the deaths of at least 51 Palestinians since Saturday, according to the Health Ministry in the region. Among these casualties, 16 Palestinians were reportedly shot dead on Friday by Israeli forces, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian groups, according to various reports.
The current round of violence was triggered when the Palestinian group Hamas initiated “Operation Al-Aqsa Flood” on Saturday, which included a multi-pronged surprise attack, including a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel via land, sea, and air. Hamas cited the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and escalating violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians as the reasons behind their offensive.
In response to this, the Israeli military launched “Operation Swords of Iron” to target Hamas positions within the Gaza Strip. This military campaign has not been limited to Gaza, as Israel’s response has extended to cutting water and electricity supplies to the area, exacerbating the already dire living conditions in a region that has been under a crippling siege since 2007.
According to the Health Ministry in Gaza, the ongoing Israeli airstrikes have resulted in the deaths of at least 1,900 Palestinians, with nearly 7,700 others sustaining injuries. Simultaneously, Israeli media reports that the Hamas attack has led to the loss of at least 1,400 lives on the Israeli side, with over 3,500 individuals injured.
The situation remains highly volatile and continues to draw international concern as efforts to de-escalate the conflict have so far yielded limited success. The international community is closely monitoring the situation, with a focus on finding a path towards a ceasefire and a resolution to the ongoing violence in the region.
The Chenab Times News Desk