According to the Gaza health ministry, the ongoing conflict with Israel that began on October 7 has resulted in a death toll exceeding 8,000 individuals in the Palestinian territory. Shockingly, approximately half of these casualties are children.
Internet access in the Gaza Strip, which had been severed during intense Israeli bombardment, is now gradually being restored. This information was confirmed by Netblocks, a global network monitoring company, as they reported on social media, formerly Twitter, that real-time data indicates the return of internet connectivity in the region.
On a Saturday, Israel’s military launched a relentless assault on Gaza, following a night of heavy shelling that reportedly caused significant damage to hundreds of buildings. This aggression marked the third week of a conflict triggered by the most devastating attack in the nation’s history.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on Israel to immediately halt its attacks, while the families of Israeli hostages held by Hamas demanded government clarification regarding their loved ones amid the intensified airstrikes and artillery barrages.
The health ministry in Gaza, controlled by Hamas, reported that at least 7,703 people have lost their lives in the conflict with Israel that erupted on October 7. Tragically, this includes more than 3,500 children. This staggering death toll is the highest recorded in Gaza since Israel unilaterally withdrew from the territory in 2005.
Israel initiated its extensive bombardment of Gaza after Hamas launched an offensive on October 7, resulting in the deaths of 1,400 people and the capture of nearly 230 others, according to Israeli authorities.
The most recent Israeli airstrikes represented one of the most intense nights of attacks since the conflict began and coincided with ground operations. Tens of thousands of Israeli troops amassed along the Gaza border in anticipation of a full-scale invasion, with limited ground incursions occurring on Wednesday and Thursday nights.
Gaza Civil Defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal stated that “hundreds of buildings and houses were completely destroyed, and thousands of other homes were damaged.” The relentless bombardment had significantly altered the landscape of northern Gaza, according to his account.
In a display of international solidarity with the people of Gaza, around 100,000 individuals participated in London’s “National March for Palestine” demonstration. The event was organized to protest Israel’s ongoing bombing and the complete siege of Gaza.
Ben Jamal, director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, expressed the unified message of the demonstrators, saying, “We are all united to deliver the same message: we want the violence to end. We’re calling for an immediate ceasefire and for necessary humanitarian supplies to be safely delivered to the people of Gaza.
