The conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza escalated on Sunday as Israeli tanks launched a push into the main city of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. The move comes amid claims by Israeli leaders that dozens of Hamas fighters have surrendered, while health authorities in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip report that about 18,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict.
Israeli leaders including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have urged Hamas fighters to surrender, stating that the fighters who have done so were the beginning of the end for the organization. However, Hamas denied these claims and said they had destroyed 180 Israeli military vehicles during the fighting.
The situation in Gaza has led to a collapse, according to U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres. He expressed concerns that public order could completely break down soon, leading to potential epidemic diseases and increased pressure for mass displacement into Egypt.
The conflict has left Gaza’s 2.3 million people with nowhere to hide. The World Health Organisation stated that it would be almost impossible to improve the “catastrophic” situation in Gaza. The health system in the region has been greatly reduced, making medical needs surge and the risk of disease grow.
Footage of detained Palestinian men in Gaza kneeling on the ground in their underclothes has sparked widespread anger. Palestinians released by Israel’s military alleged physical abuse in custody including beatings with shoes on their heads and bodies.
The conflict has triggered an escalation of fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement in Lebanon, with Arab foreign ministers criticising the United States for vetoing a U.N. Security Council resolution that demanded a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.
The U.N. Secretary-General has urged the Security Council to press to avert a humanitarian catastrophe and appealed for a ceasefire. Despite these efforts, the Security Council failed to declare a humanitarian ceasefire, allowing the conflict to continue.
The ongoing conflict has taken a devastating toll on the residents of Gaza, with thousands confirmed dead and injured, and thousands of others missing and presumed dead under rubble. The situation presents a dire need for the international community to take action and prevent further loss of life.