Nearly 450,000 individuals have evacuated Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip in response to Israeli evacuation orders issued earlier this month, according to the U.N. Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which supports Palestinian refugees. Satellite imagery has revealed a significant increase in the number of people in central Gaza, coinciding with heightened fighting and strikes in parts of the north. Cease-fire negotiations between Israel and Hamas are currently at a standstill, as noted by Qatar's prime minister on Tuesday, who also stated that Israel's military operation in Rafah has hindered progress at the negotiating table.
Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani of Qatar highlighted the extensive destruction in Gaza, cautioning that the region could face ongoing violence and a potential "new wave of radicalization" if reconstruction plans for the territory are not established.
In commemorating Israel's 76th Independence Day, President Biden reassured Israeli President Isaac Herzog of the United States' unwavering commitment to Israel's security. Biden praised the Israeli people for their resilience following the October 7 attack by Hamas.
Hospitals in Gaza are at risk of closure as concerns about hunger escalate, with the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt closed to aid for a week, according to warnings from the Gaza Health Ministry and the U.N. humanitarian affairs office.
A Human Rights Watch report published on Tuesday revealed that Israeli forces have conducted at least eight strikes on aid workers' convoys and premises in Gaza since October 2023, despite aid groups providing their coordinates in advance. The report highlighted a strike on World Central Kitchen workers last month, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described as "unintentional."
The death toll in Gaza has reached 35,173, with 79,061 individuals injured since the war began, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. While the ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants, it notes that the majority of the deceased are women and children.
Israel has estimated that around 1,200 people were killed in Hamas's October 7 attack, including over 300 soldiers. The country also reported that 272 soldiers have been killed since the launch of its military operation in Gaza.
The Human Rights Watch report criticized Israel's "deconfliction system," designed to protect aid workers, stating that it failed to prevent attacks that killed at least 15 people, including two children, and injured 16 others. The report also highlighted Israel's lack of response to requests for specific information about the attacks.
Talks between Israel and Hamas have reached a stalemate, according to Qatar's prime minister, who noted that while there was hope for a deal after Hamas accepted a cease-fire proposal, progress was halted by Israel's military operation in Rafah.
A U.S. Army officer working at the Defense Intelligence Agency resigned from the military, citing objections to Israel's actions in Gaza. Maj. Harrison Mann expressed distress over his role potentially contributing to the deaths of Palestinian civilians, particularly during the recent conflict in Rafah.
Satellite images show a significant population shift in Deir al-Balah, as hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have fled, many seeking refuge in Mawasi, Deir al-Balah, and Khan Younis. The ongoing conflict in southern Gaza has trapped a team of international doctors near Rafah, further complicating aid efforts in the region.