Death toll in Gaza Strip exceeds 33,000

Israel's bombardment of civilians in the Gaza Strip has been ongoing for 181 days.

As the Israeli Army continues to target aid workers, the death toll continues to rise with every passing hour.

In a statement issued by the Palestinian Ministry of Health, it was reported that 62 Palestinians lost their lives and 91 were injured in attacks carried out over the last 24 hours. The statement noted that with the loss of life in the latest attacks, the number of those who have died since the Israeli bombardment began on October 7 has risen to 33,037, and the number of injured has reached 75,668.

The Israeli army attacked the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. Eight people, including 3 children, lost their lives in attacks targeting homes where civilians were sheltering. In an airstrike on the Maghazi Refugee Camp in the center of the region, 2 Palestinians lost their lives and 15 others were injured.

In a statement made by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), it was stated that Israeli settlers have carried out 704 attacks against Palestinians in the occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank. The statement reported that 69 of the 704 attacks resulted in loss of life, 558 resulted in damage to Palestinian-owned property, and 77 involved both loss of life and property damage. UNOCHA stated, "In this context, a total of 17 Palestinians were killed and more than 400 were injured. Due to the attacks, more than 9,900 trees were damaged, and 40 homes were destroyed."

STATEMENT FROM HAMAS: WE ARE COMMITTED TO OUR DEMANDS

Hamas Political Bureau Chief Ismail Haniyeh, in a statement regarding the ceasefire negotiations held with Israel, said, "We are committed to our demands: A permanent ceasefire, the complete withdrawal of the enemy from the Gaza Strip, the return of all displaced people to their homes, the authorization of all necessary aid for our people in Gaza, the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, the lifting of the blockade, and the conclusion of a prisoner exchange deal."

Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said in a statement that negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza have reached a stalemate regarding the return of displaced people to different parts of Palestinian territory. An unnamed official speaking about the negotiations claimed that Hamas wants the people to be able to return to the north, while Israel does not want displaced Palestinians to have freedom of movement. The official said that one of the points of contention in the talks is whether or not Palestinians convicted by Israel will be released.

News Source: İHA