Israeli airstrikes that targeted the Gaza Strip overnight resulted in the deaths of at least 20 individuals, as reported by Palestinian medical officials on Monday.
One of the strikes hit a tent camp located in the Muwasi area, which had been designated by Israel as a humanitarian zone. This incident led to the deaths of eight people, including two children, according to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, where the deceased were sent.
The Israeli military has defended its operations, asserting that they only strike those identified as militants, who they claim frequently hide among civilian populations. A statement released late Sunday indicated that the military aimed at a Hamas operative in the humanitarian zone.
This ongoing conflict erupted when militants from Hamas launched an attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths, the majority of whom were civilians, along with around 250 individuals taken as hostages. Currently, around 100 of those captives are believed to still be within Gaza, with at least one-third presumed deceased.
Israel’s extensive air and ground operations have reportedly resulted in over 45,200 Palestinian fatalities, according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza. This ministry claims that women and children comprise over half of the casualties, but it does not separate its figures into civilians and combatants. Meanwhile, the military contends that it has eliminated over 17,000 militants, although it has not provided evidence to back its claims.
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In the West Bank town of Jenin, the Palestinian Authority has announced that a second member of its security forces has been killed during confrontations with militants. Brigadier General Anwar Rajab, spokesperson for PA security, confirmed that 1st Sgt. Mehran Qadoos lost his life on Monday at the hands of “outlaws” in the unsettled northern region, where a crackdown on militant activity by security forces was initiated earlier this month. Another security forces member was killed a day prior.
An eyewitness monitored heavy gunfire and explosions in Jenin, indicative of battles between the Palestinian security forces and local militants, with no indication of any Israeli military presence.
Earlier, militant organizations called for a territory-wide general strike, accusing the security forces of attempting to disarm them in complicity with Israel’s half-century-long occupation.
The Palestinian Authority, which has Western backing and international recognition, faces significant unpopularity among Palestinians primarily due to its collaboration with Israel on security issues. Israel, on the other hand, accuses the authority of incitement and failing to effectively counter armed organizations.
The Palestinian Authority exercises limited control over population centers in the West Bank, an area captured by Israel in the 1967 Middle East War. Palestinians aspire for this territory to serve as the core of their envisioned future state.
Israel’s current political leadership opposes any notion of Palestinian statehood and asserts that it will maintain indefinite security oversight of the region, particularly in the wake of escalated violence following Hamas’s attack from Gaza on October 7, 2023.
In related developments, residents of Jenin are participating in a general strike initiated by militant groups in response to the Palestinian security forces’ crackdown. Gunfire and explosions were heard amidst clashes, with no immediate reports of injuries. Businesses in the area were closed on Monday following an attack that resulted in the death of a Palestinian security force member and injured two others.
Militant organizations have accused the security forces of seeking to disarm them in favor of Israel’s occupation.
The Palestinian Authority has attributed the previous day’s violence to “outlaws,” affirming its commitment to public safety while also clarifying that it will not police the occupation. As a governing body with limited authority, the Palestinian Authority’s standing among its people remains fraught with challenges, particularly regarding its relationship with Israel.
In Beirut, Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister has embarked on a tour of military positions in the southern region, nearly a month post-ceasefire agreement that concluded the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
Najib Mikati’s visit to frontline areas takes place where Lebanese soldiers are expected to gradually be deployed under a U.S.-brokered accord, which stipulates a phased withdrawal of both Hezbollah and Israeli forces by the end of the next month.
This tour follows Lebanese governmental expressions of frustration over ongoing Israeli strikes and reconnaissance flights over its territory.
Mikati commented on the essential tasks ahead, emphasizing the imperative for Israel to withdraw from lands encroached upon during its recent military actions. He stated, “Then the army can carry out its tasks in full,” after discussions with army chief Joseph Aoun in Marjayoun.
The Lebanese military has depended on international financial assistance, notably from the United States, to maintain operations. The government hopes that the recent ceasefire will lead to increased funding for the military, particularly to enhance its presence in the south, where Hezbollah forces had been notably active.
While Hezbollah’s armed units were not actively engaged, reports indicate that numerous Lebanese soldiers have lost their lives due to Israeli strikes against military installations or convoys. The Israeli army has acknowledged that some of these attacks occurred.