No fewer than 10,328 people have reportedly lost their lives as the war between Israel and the militant group Hamas which controls the Palestinian territory enters one month.
This is according to Gaza’s health ministry on Tuesday, according to AFP.
Thousands of children are among those killed in Gaza since October 7, when Israel launched a blistering assault in response to a deadly attack on southern Israel by Hamas militants.
Israel declared war on Hamas after the Islamist militant group launched a brutal attack on October 7, killing 1,400 in Israel and kidnapping more than 240, according to CNN.
The brutal attack sparked outrage and a retaliation by Israel who launched an air and ground offensive on Gaza, vowing to eliminate the militant group.
As the month-long war lingers, international organisations and other stakeholders have been calling for an immediate ceasefire.
Al-Jazeera reported that the leaders of 18 United Nations agencies and non-profit organisations demanded an immediate ceasefire in what they described as “shock and horror” as the death toll spiked.
“We need an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. It’s been 30 days. Enough is enough,” the UN and NGO heads said in a rare joint statement on Sunday. “This must stop now.”
However, has insisted that the Hamas-run Gaza is ‘not remotely close’ to a humanitarian crisis, despite calls for a ceasefire from international bodies.
Representing the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories in Israel, Col Elad Goren said, “I can say clearly that we are not remotely close to approaching the minimum levels that we are obligated under international law.”
Speaking further, Col Goren reiterated Israel’s position on the matter by saying, “Wherever Hamas will be, we will attack them.”
