RAMALLAH: The Palestinian health ministry reported on Saturday that the death toll in the Gaza Strip has reached at least 20,258 people, mostly women and children, due to ongoing relentless Israeli attacks since October 7. The statement revealed that in the past 24 hours alone, 201 Palestinians have been killed, and 368 others sustained injuries in Gaza.
The ministry expressed deep concern over the continuous Israeli offensive, stating that the total number of Palestinians killed in the besieged Gaza Strip has now reached 20,258, with an additional 53,688 individuals injured since October 7.
In a distressing development, a video posted by a social media account named Gaza Notifications showed a bulldozer lowering the bodies of Palestinians killed in the Israeli offensive into a mass grave. The footage suggested that some of the deceased had undergone “field executions and were mauled by dogs.”
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addressed the escalating conflict, stating that four out of the five hungriest people globally are in Gaza. Guterres emphasized the UN’s commitment to responding to the intensifying conflict and the growing humanitarian crisis in the region.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused Israel of deliberately escalating massacres to disrupt the implementation of the recent UN Security Council resolution aimed at boosting aid to Gaza. The statement highlighted that dozens of civilians were killed in the latest Israeli airstrikes and artillery shelling in various refugee camps.
No Place is Safe in Gaza
Thomas White, the director of UNRWA affairs in Gaza, emphasized that “nothing has changed” in the besieged enclave since the UN Security Council passed the resolution to increase aid. White reiterated the urgent need for a ceasefire to end the suffering of Palestinian civilians, emphasizing that airstrikes continue to impact all parts of Gaza.
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees commented on the Israeli evacuation order issued for civilians in central Gaza, stating, “No place is safe, nowhere to go.” The agency emphasized the plight of displaced people who have been forced to move multiple times, urging the need for a ceasefire to alleviate the humanitarian crisis.
Meanwhile, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi criticized the “inefficacy” of international bodies in halting the deadly Israeli attacks in Gaza. Raisi expressed disappointment in the Security Council’s response and the limitations of international organizations in addressing the ongoing crisis.
In a separate development, the presidents of Egypt and Iran engaged in a phone call discussing recent developments in Gaza and exploring the possibility of restoring diplomatic ties between the two countries. Iranian President Raisi expressed Iran’s readiness to provide support and aid to the Palestinians, condemning the actions of the Zionist regime.
