CAIRO/JERUSALEM. Israeli airstrikes across Gaza have resulted in the deaths of at least 50 Palestinians in the past 24 hours, according to Palestinian health authorities. This surge in violence comes as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken concludes his visit to the Middle East with no clear resolution to the ongoing conflict.
The Israeli military reported that its jets targeted approximately 30 locations throughout the Gaza Strip, including tunnels, launch sites, and an observation post. “Troops continued to target militants and seize weapons and ammunition,” the military stated. The strikes reportedly killed numerous armed fighters and led to the capture of explosives, grenades, and automatic rifles.
In a bid to safeguard civilians, the military issued new evacuation orders for Deir Al-Balah, a densely populated area in central Gaza where many displaced individuals have taken refuge. These orders were followed by tank fire, resulting in at least one death and several injuries from machine gun fire, according to medics and local residents.
The intensified conflict persists despite diplomatic efforts led by Blinken, who has been negotiating with leaders from Egypt, Qatar, and Israel. The focus of these discussions has been the dire situation in Gaza, where the ongoing military campaign has claimed over 40,000 lives since October, based on Palestinian health data.
The conflict began on October 7 of the previous year, when Hamas militants launched an attack on Israeli communities and military bases, killing around 1,200 people and taking approximately 250 hostages, according to Israeli figures.
For those displaced in Deir Al-Balah, the lack of progress towards a ceasefire has exacerbated their plight. Aburakan, a 55-year-old from Gaza City who has relocated multiple times since October, voiced his frustration: “Where will we go? Where will we go?” He lamented his fruitless search for safe refuge, adding, “Unfortunately, we may die before we see an end to this war. All ceasefire talk is a lie.”
Palestinian and United Nations officials report that most of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have been displaced by the ongoing Israeli offensive, which has devastated large portions of the enclave.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
