Israeli forces escalated their assaults on the southern city of Khan Younis in Gaza, prompting numerous Palestinians to flee further south. Families laden with belongings either walked or loaded vehicles and donkey carts, as the conflict displaced 85% of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, with one in four facing starvation, according to the UN.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to continue the offensive until achieving ‘complete victory’ over Hamas and secured the release of around 100 hostages in Gaza. The recent attack resulted in at least 50 deaths, marking it as the bloodiest event in January. Israeli forces entered Al-Khair Hospital in the al-Mawasi district, west of Khan Younis, and besieged Al-Amal Hospital in Khan Younis, impeding access to trauma care.
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The United States called on Israel to safeguard innocent people in hospitals, including medical staff and patients. Communication services in Gaza were disrupted due to the ongoing conflict, isolating the territory. Israel proposed a two-month pause in its offensive against Hamas, suggesting a phased release of the remaining 136 hostages. However, this falls short of meeting Hamas’ demand for a complete end to the war.
In a separate development, relatives of Israelis held hostage stormed a parliamentary committee in Jerusalem, demanding increased efforts to free their loved ones. Egypt cautioned Israel against attempting to seize control of the Philadelphi corridor on the Egypt-Gaza border. Additionally, Saudi Arabia declared it would not normalize relations with Israel or contribute to Gaza’s reconstruction without a credible path to a Palestinian state.
Netanyahu faces domestic pressure over the hostage situation, rejecting Palestinian statehood and advocating for open-ended military control over Gaza. The situation highlights a dispute between Israel and the international community, including its ally, the United States, over the future of Gaza.
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