The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas continues to escalate, with reports of over 10,000 Palestinian deaths in Gaza since October 7, according to the Hamas-run Palestinian Health Ministry. However, these figures have not been independently verified. The Israeli military campaign against Hamas was initiated following a 7 October attack inside Israel, during which Hamas fighters reportedly killed over 1,400 Israelis and abducted at least 240 hostages back into Gaza.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently concluded a Middle East diplomatic tour in Turkey, aiming to build regional consensus on easing civilian suffering in Gaza amidst Israel's intensified war against Hamas. Despite his efforts, Blinken found limited support for the Biden administration's proposal for 'humanitarian pauses' to Israel's military campaign. Blinken hopes that pauses in the war would allow for a surge of humanitarian aid to Gaza and the release of hostages captured by Hamas.
The conflict has had a severe impact on Gaza's infrastructure. A recent Israeli air attack damaged the solar panel roof of Gaza's largest hospital, pushing medical services across the Strip to the brink of collapse. The World Health Organization has expressed concern about the communications outage in Gaza, which hinders immediate medical attention.
The international community has been actively involved in efforts to deescalate the situation. South Africa is reassessing its ties with Israel, recalling diplomats due to the conflict. Iran's supreme leader met with the head of Hamas' political bureau, while Russia reported positive signals regarding Hamas-held Russian hostages. China, after assuming the U.N. Security Council presidency, pledged to work towards restoring peace in the Palestinian territories.