What's New
Palestinian medical officials said on Monday that recent Israeli strikes across Gaza left at least 20 individuals dead.
One of the airstrikes reportedly hit a tent camp in the Muwasi area, which is designated by Israel as a humanitarian safe zone but has repeatedly been hit by attacks. The strike claimed the lives of eight people, including two children, according to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, which reported receiving the victims' bodies.
The Israeli military maintains that its strikes are focused solely on militants, whom it accuses of using civilian areas for operations. Late Sunday, it stated that it had targeted a Hamas operative within the humanitarian zone.
Why It Matters
The conflict between Israel and Hamas began in October 2023 when Hamas-led militants launched an attack on southern Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people, the majority of whom were civilians, and taking about 250 hostages. Israel estimates that around 100 captives remain in Gaza with at least a third presumed dead.
Israel's ongoing air and ground offensive has claimed the lives of more than 45,200 Palestinians, according to figures from Gaza's Health Ministry, which reports that women and children account for over half of the fatalities. The ministry, however, does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its statistics. The Israeli military, for its part, claims to have killed over 17,000 militants, though it has not provided evidence to substantiate this figure.
What To Know
Last week, Human Rights Watch accused Israel of genocide by restricting water to Gaza amid the country's ongoing war with Hamas militants. The rights group joins a growing chorus of critics accusing Israel of committing genocidal acts in its war in Gaza. Israel strongly rejected the allegations.
Israel's defense minister announced last Thursday that he instructed the military to complete its investigation into the failures of the October 7 attack by January.
Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a statement that he would freeze new general appointments until the military completes its investigation into the failures of that day. Katz emphasized that he wants to review the findings and fully understand the report before selecting new generals.
What People Are Saying
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday said there has been "some progress" in efforts to reach a hostage and ceasefire deal in Gaza. However, he did not provide a time frame for any possible agreement.
Netanyahu said while speaking in the Knesset: "We are taking significant actions through all channels to return our loved ones. I would like to tell you cautiously that there is some progress."
What's Next
Last month, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu, his former defense minister and several Hamas officials. The court accuses them of war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the ongoing war in Gaza and the October 2023 attacks.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
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