Gaza’s Health Ministry reports that over 40,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks, with many more trapped under rubble and facing severe health risks. Recent Israeli military strikes targeted Hamad City and artillery hit residential buildings in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. These attacks follow a recent escalation that resulted in dozens of deaths across Palestinian territories over the past 24 hours.
The US and Israel are sending delegations to Qatar for ceasefire talks scheduled to begin later today. Hamas has indicated a willingness to engage in discussions after the talks to evaluate Israel's response to truce proposals.
In the occupied West Bank, an Israeli drone attack on the Balata refugee camp killed two Palestinians and injured others today. Additionally, five people were killed by Israeli security forces in the Tubas governorate yesterday.
Overall, at least 40,005 people have been killed and 92,401 wounded in the conflict. Since the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, approximately 1,139 people have been killed in Israel, and more than 200 have been taken captive.
**Israeli Army Destroys Over 50 Tunnels Along Egypt-Gaza Border**
The Israeli army has reported the destruction of more than 50 tunnels along the Egypt-Gaza border over the past week. These tunnels, Israel claims, were used by Hamas to smuggle arms into Gaza. The army also stated that during ongoing operations, weapons and hideout pits were found, and approximately 100 militants were "eliminated."
Israel maintains that controlling the buffer zone between Egypt and Gaza, known as the Philadelphi Corridor, is essential for its security.
**US Imposes Sanctions on Houthi and Hezbollah Trade Networks**
The United States has introduced new sanctions targeting trade networks associated with the Houthis and Hezbollah as part of its campaign against Iranian-backed groups. The US Treasury Department announced sanctions on companies, individuals, and vessels involved in transporting Iranian commodities, such as oil and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), to Yemen and the UAE on behalf of Houthi financial networks.
Additionally, sanctions were imposed on Hezbollah-related LPG shipments, including a Hong Kong-based ship manager and several tankers.
“Today’s action highlights our ongoing commitment to disrupting Iran’s primary source of funding to its regional terrorist proxies like Hezbollah and the Houthis,” said Bradley Smith, Acting Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. “Our message is clear: those who finance these groups’ destabilizing activities will be held accountable.”
**‘We Rarely Hear of Attacks Without Child Casualties,’ Says UNICEF**
Salim Oweis, communication officer for UNICEF's regional office, who recently traveled through Gaza, described the conditions as nearly impossible to convey.
“What I witnessed is beyond words—television screens fail to capture the full extent of the devastation,” Oweis told Al Jazeera. “Entire neighborhoods and streets in places like Khan Younis and Gaza City are reduced to rubble.”
He highlighted the dire living conditions in displacement camps and shelters, noting the severe heat, sand, and overcrowding.
“In Deir el-Balah, the scale of displacement is overwhelming; it feels as though everyone has been displaced at least once. We’re talking about 90 percent of the population,” Oweis said.
He added that children are frequently among the casualties in these attacks. “We rarely hear of an attack that doesn’t involve child casualties,” he noted. “Children make up nearly half of Gaza’s population, which was already densely populated before the current conflict.”
**Lebanon’s Prime Minister Calls for Patience Amid Rising Regional Tensions**
Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati expressed concern over escalating regional tensions during a meeting with France’s Foreign Minister, Stéphane Séjourne, as new ceasefire talks began in Qatar.
“We can only remain silent, patient, and pray during this challenging time,” Mikati said, according to the National News Agency.
Séjourne emphasized the necessity of a ceasefire for achieving peace, expressing worry about the regional situation. His visit follows remarks by US Envoy Amos Hochstein, who stressed the urgency of a Gaza ceasefire to facilitate a diplomatic resolution and prevent further conflict in Lebanon.
**Abbas Declares Intent to Visit Gaza Despite Risks**
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas told a special session of the Turkish parliament that he plans to return to Gaza, even if it endangers his life.
“I have decided to go to Gaza with other Palestinian leaders,” Abbas declared, receiving enthusiastic applause from Turkish lawmakers. “I am prepared to do so, even if it costs my life. Our lives are not more valuable than those of the children.”
After meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Abbas reaffirmed that Palestinians will not accept any solution that divides their territories. “Our people will not surrender,” the 88-year-old leader declared.
**‘Promising Start’ at Gaza Talks in Doha, but No Immediate Deal Expected: US**
The White House has characterized the initial Gaza ceasefire talks in Qatar as having a "promising start," but cautioned that a deal is not anticipated immediately. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby confirmed that the talks, which began in Doha with CIA Director William Burns in attendance, are expected to continue into Friday.
**Israel’s Defence Minister Imposes Sanctions on 18 Tankers Linked to Iran**
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has imposed sanctions on 18 tankers allegedly involved in transporting oil for the Quds Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which he claimed also benefits Hezbollah and Hamas.
The Israeli National Bureau for Counter Terror Financing (NBCTF) announced that these sanctions are part of an “economic campaign” by the defense establishment. The NBCTF stated that the oil, originating from Iranian allocations to the Quds Force, is transported under a facade to evade international sanctions and is sold to various countries, violating maritime safety and environmental laws. The NBCTF also alleged that senior Hezbollah officials are involved in the oil transportation and sale.
**Gaza Death Toll ‘Vastly Underestimated,’ Says Intensive Care Doctor**
Dr. Tanya Haj-Hassan, a pediatric intensive care doctor with Doctors Without Borders (MSF) who has worked in Gaza both before and during the current conflict, believes the true death toll in the Gaza Strip far exceeds the 40,000 reported.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, Dr. Haj-Hassan shared that she personally knows Palestinians with missing family members who are either unaccounted for in the north or believed to be detained by Israeli forces. She also mentioned that some victims remain buried under rubble and have yet to be recovered.
“The Gaza Strip’s census mechanisms have been destroyed, making it nearly impossible to accurately estimate the number of deaths under the current conditions,” Haj-Hassan said. “Historically, estimates from the Ministry of Health have been accurate, and if anything, they have likely been underestimates.”
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