Israel-Gaza Conflict 2024
Israel continues bombardment of Gaza after killing 274 Palestinians in hostage rescue operation
The Israeli army conducted a hostage rescue operation in Gaza, resulting in the deaths of at least 274 Palestinians, including many children and women. The operation continued with further attacks on Palestinian militants, leading to ongoing clashes and casualties in the region.
The United States is pushing for a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, aiming to bring about a better future for Palestinians with increased aid and security. The death toll in Gaza is rising, with Hamas still holding hostages as the conflict continues.
Key Concepts
- Israeli army conducts hostage rescue operation in Gaza, resulting in deaths of at least 274 Palestinians.
- Ongoing clashes reported between armed groups in Gaza, with UNRWA estimating 100,000 people still trapped in the city.
- Situation in Rafah escalates, with all UNRWA shelters emptied and residents seeking safer places in Khan Yunis and central region.
- Israeli airstrikes in Rafah result in casualties, uncovering additional terror tunnels and weapons.
- Israeli Prime Minister and Defense Minister vow to continue mission to rescue all hostages, while Hamas leader declares resistance will continue.
- United States pushing for ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, including political and humanitarian strategy.
- U.S. Secretary of State to visit Middle East to revive ceasefire talks.
- Death toll in Gaza reported to be over 37,000, with Israel reporting around 1,200 killed in a terrorist attack.
- Hamas still holds 116 hostages, including 41 who have died.
Israel continued its bombardment of Gaza on Sunday (June 9). The Hamas-run government media office said that the Israeli army killed at least 274 Palestinians, including 64 children and 57 women, in a hostage rescue operation a day earlier.
The Israeli army said a special forces officer was killed during a bloody rescue operation in the densely populated Nuseirat neighborhood and said it knew “fewer than 100” Palestinians had been killed but did not know how many were combatants or civilians.
The Israeli army said in a statement that it continued operations in central Gaza east of Buriji and in the city of Deir al-Bahra, killing several Palestinian militants and destroying facilities of radical militants.
Residents trapped in their homes said tanks rolled into two new districts east of Rafah on Sunday, fighting with armed groups led by Hamas.
The United Nations Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA said there are still about 100,000 people in Rafah, and more than one million Palestinian refugees who had previously fled abandoned their latest refuge and headed further north.
“All UNRWA shelters in Rafah have been emptied. Many people living in Rafah have moved north along the coast to Khan Younis and the central region in search of safer places,” UNRWA said in a statement.
Palestinian medics said an Israeli airstrike on Sunday killed two people in a house in Sultan, west of Rafah.
The Israeli army said that troops from the 162nd Division attacked parts of Rafah and discovered “numerous additional terror tunnels, mortars and (other) weapons” belonging to Palestinian Islamist militants.
“Israel will not surrender to terrorism,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. “We are fulfilling our mission and returning all of our lives, living and dead,” he said in the war room after the rescue operation Saturday. The hostages will not give up until now.”
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said the rescue operation was challenging and “our troops came under heavy fire in the most complex urban environment in Gaza.”
“Our people will not surrender and the resistance will continue to protect our rights in the face of this criminal enemy,” Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said in a statement Saturday.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told CBS’s “Face the Nation” on Sunday that the best way to get all the hostages home is for U.S. President Joe Biden and the world’s 16 A comprehensive ceasefire and hostage agreement agreed to by the state and accepted by Israel.
Sullivan said that now Hamas needs to accept the agreement, which clarifies the political and humanitarian strategy and provides “a reasonable strategic ending.” He said, “If Hamas will accept the agreement, there will be a ceasefire and the hostages will be free.” will come home, more humanitarian aid will flow in, and a better day will begin to emerge for the Palestinian people.”
But Sullivan admitted that Israel has yet to provide a clear plan for post-war Gaza governance after the ceasefire agreement is signed, but he hoped that a solid vision will emerge in the coming weeks.
He said, “We will work hard to create a future where Israel is safe, where the Palestinian people have freedom, dignity, and autonomy, where Israel can integrate into the region, live in harmony with its Arab neighbors, and make the entire region more stable and secure. This is very consistent with the United States. Interests.”
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will return to the Middle East this week in an effort to revive stalled ceasefire talks between Israel and Kazakhstan.
Blinken will stop in Egypt, Israel, Jordan, and Qatar during his three-day visit. Gaza’s health ministry said the Israeli offensive had killed at least 37,084 Palestinians so far, but did not distinguish between combatants and civilians.
According to official Israeli figures, the terrorist attack on October 7 killed approximately 1,200 people in Israel, mostly civilians. Hamas kidnapped 251 hostages, 116 of whom are still imprisoned in Gaza, including 41 dead.