Gaza's Rising Toll: A Grim Milestone Amid Ongoing Conflict

The number of Palestinians who have lost their lives in the Israel-Hamas war has now reached a staggering 70, 100, as reported by Gaza's Health Ministry. This grim milestone comes despite a recent ceasefire that was supposed to bring some respite to the region. The ceasefire, which began on October 10, has not stopped the violence entirely, as Israel continues to carry out strikes in response to what it claims are violations of the truce. The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise attack on southern Israel, resulting in the deaths of around 1, 200 people and the capture of more than 250 hostages. Most of the hostages have since been returned, either through ceasefire agreements or other deals. However, the war has left a trail of destruction and loss that continues to grow. In the latest incident, two Palestinian children, aged 8 and 11, were killed when an Israeli drone struck near a school in the town of Beni Suhaila, which was sheltering displaced people. The Israeli military, however, reported a different story, stating that they had killed two individuals who had crossed into an Israeli-controlled area and were engaged in suspicious activities. The military's statement did not mention any children. Since the ceasefire took effect, at least 352 Palestinians have been killed across the territory, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its reports. Israel maintains that its strikes are targeted at militants who are violating the truce. Both sides have accused each other of breaching the agreement. Hamas has called on mediators to pressure Israel to halt what it describes as ceasefire violations in Gaza. Meanwhile, a U. S. proposal outlining the future of Gaza, which has been ravaged by more than two years of war, is still in its early stages. The plan includes the deployment of an international stabilization force to provide security and the establishment of a transitional authority overseen by U. S. President Donald Trump. It also envisions a potential path to an independent Palestinian state. The conflict has not been contained to Gaza. Israeli forces have been active on other fronts as well. In a recent incident, Israeli forces raided a Syrian village, resulting in the deaths of at least 13 people. Israel claimed that the operation was aimed at apprehending suspects linked to a militant group planning attacks in Israel. The militants reportedly opened fire at the troops, wounding six. Israel has also intensified its strikes in Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah sites. The militant group has accused Israel of aggression, despite a ceasefire that ended a 14-month war between the two sides a year ago. Hezbollah has called on Pope Leo XIV, who is visiting the region, to reject what they describe as injustice and aggression. In the Israeli-occupied West Bank, tensions continue to rise. Palestinians have accused Israeli soldiers of executing two men after footage aired by Arab television stations showed troops shooting the men after they appeared to surrender. The Israeli military has said that it is investigating the incident. Settler violence in the West Bank has also been on the rise. On Saturday, the Palestinian Red Crescent reported that 10 Palestinians were injured by beatings and live ammunition during settler attacks in Khallet al-Louza village, near Bethlehem.