What's happened
Israeli military operations in Gaza have escalated, resulting in significant civilian casualties, particularly among women and children. Recent airstrikes targeted schools and shelters, claiming they were used by Hamas as command centers. The ongoing conflict has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, with many displaced Palestinians seeking refuge in these facilities.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to the New York Times, Israeli airstrikes have resulted in at least 51 deaths in Khan Younis, with many casualties being women and children. The Israeli military claims these strikes target Hamas command centers, a justification that has been met with skepticism. Al Jazeera reports that the strikes on schools sheltering displaced families have drawn international condemnation, highlighting the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The Independent notes that the death toll in Gaza has surpassed 41,000, with a significant portion being civilians, raising questions about Israel's military strategy and adherence to international law.
How we got here
The conflict between Israel and Hamas has intensified since October 2023, following a deadly attack by Hamas that killed around 1,200 Israelis. Israel's military response has included extensive airstrikes on Gaza, leading to a high civilian death toll and widespread displacement.
More on these topics
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Hamas is a Palestinian Sunni-Islamic fundamentalist militant organization. It has a social service wing, Dawah, and a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.
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Gaza may refer to:
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Israel, formally known as the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia, located on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea.
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Hezbollah is a Shia Islamist political party and militant group based in Lebanon. Hezbollah's paramilitary wing is the Jihad Council, and its political wing is the Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc party in the Lebanese parliament.
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The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East is a UN agency that supports the relief and human development of Palestinian refugees.
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The Gaza Strip, or simply Gaza, is a self-governing Palestinian territory on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, that borders Egypt on the southwest for 11 kilometers and Israel on the east and north along a 51 km border.