Military operations between Hamas and the Israeli army continue in Gaza and its surroundings, accompanied by intense Israeli bombardment of the besieged enclave. The Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, announced that “in light of the heroic scene being drawn by the Palestinian resistance and the Ezzedin Al-Qassam Brigades, which are performing an extraordinary defense against the extermination war waged by the Israeli army on our people in the Gaza Strip, we confirm that the army's claims of targeting elite forces of Al-Qassam Brigades throughout the sector are baseless.”
It was stated in a statement that "what is being targeted are residential neighborhoods, leveling them to the ground, and hitting civilian institutions, mosques, and homes that are being demolished over their residents, including children and women, without prior warning." The movement emphasized that "the resistance of our people and the Al-Qassam Brigades is fulfilling its duty in defending our land, people, and holy sites, decisively leading the battle, and will continue to have the upper hand in this fight," stressing that "all these massacres and the extermination war launched by the criminal occupation army will not succeed in undermining the determination of our people and the strength of our continuous resistance until the liberation of the land and holy sites."
Media outlets affiliated with Hamas reported that "15 Palestinians were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a refugee camp in Gaza." Palestinians noted that "this airstrike is the third in recent hours on residential buildings across the sector," adding that "residents received no warning from Israeli security before their homes were bombed."
Al-Aqsa TV reported today that a spokesperson for the health ministry in the Gaza Strip announced that the number of Palestinian fatalities due to Israeli bombardments has risen to 1,200, with around 5,600 injuries. In contrast, Israeli broadcasting authorities reported that at least 1,300 Israelis have died since the onset of Hamas's assault on Saturday.
Palestinian factions continue to launch rockets at Israeli settlements, with Israeli President Isaac Herzog revealing that "5,000 rockets have been fired toward Israel, 2,000 of which fell in open areas."
Israeli army spokesperson Daniel Hagari stated that "Israel has confirmed the identities of 97 hostages held in the Gaza Strip since the attack carried out by Hamas on Saturday." He added in a televised press briefing that "the assault launched by Israel on the Gaza Strip aims to eliminate Hamas's capability to manage and control the sector." He noted, "the army is preparing for the next phase of the war," pointing out that "222 soldiers have died since Saturday."
In related news, the Palestinian Prisoners Club announced that "Israeli authorities have cut off water and electricity to 5,252 Palestinian detainees in its prisons, with no Israeli comments on this matter." It stated in its release: "More than 5,250 prisoners, including 39 female prisoners and over 170 children, are facing a real disaster." The club continued that, in addition to cutting water and electricity since Wednesday, "the canteen (kiosk) remains closed, and foodstuffs and limited cooking tools used by the prisoners to prepare food have been confiscated." It clarified, "The disaster is escalating with the increase in arrest campaigns in the West Bank, which have seen more than 200 arrests since October 7."
The club called on the international Committee of the Red Cross to "play its real and necessary role in these circumstances and to work as hard as possible to assure the families of prisoners and detainees."
Regarding the hostages held by Hamas, Fabrizio Carboni, the regional director for the Middle East and North Africa at the Red Cross, mentioned that the committee is in contact with "Hamas" and Israel regarding them. He added: "As a neutral intermediary, we are ready to carry out humanitarian visits and facilitate communications between the hostages and their families, facilitating any eventual release."
On another front, the Chinese Foreign Ministry reported that three of its citizens were killed, two are missing, and several others were injured during the Hamas attack on Israel. Spokesman Wang Wenbin stated at a press conference: "China will coordinate efforts to treat the injured and calls on the authorities to search for the others who are missing."
In support of Palestine, Jordan’s official television reported via X platform that "Jordan sent today the first aid to Gaza since the outbreak of the latest conflict." A Jordanian military source indicated that "a military aircraft will transport the aid to the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, where it will be handed over to the authorities in Gaza if permits are obtained."
Urgent: Jordan sends first relief aid flights to Gaza pic.twitter.com/Is3baGkHrf
For the first time since its withdrawal 17 years ago, Israel has made a serious decision to carry out a ground invasion of the Gaza Strip and a scorched earth policy through destructive airstrikes. To this end, a seasoned military commander from the reserve forces, former commander of the Gaza Division Brigadier General Chiko Tamir (59 years old), has been appointed to lead the mission, having been responsible for training infantry and armored divisions in recent years.
Dutch news agency ANP reported, citing the government, that "the Netherlands will continue to operate flights to repatriate its citizens from Israel as long as necessary." The first Dutch military aircraft arriving from Israel landed in the Netherlands last night, with another heading to Israel today after KLM Airlines retracted its offer to operate flights for repatriating citizens due to safety concerns.
As a result of the situation in Palestine, X’s CEO Linda Yaccarino announced that the platform has deleted hundreds of "Hamas-affiliated accounts" and has taken measures to delete or label tens of thousands of pieces of content since the attack on Israel.
Israeli airstrikes on the fifth day of the war took on a larger retaliatory form, appearing to represent an effort to set back Gaza decades. Israel has leveled other neighborhoods, similar to what happened in the upscale Rimal neighborhood, with a significant focus on destroying upscale areas in the sector and causing maximum damage on the ground, forcing civilians to migrate and displace. Hamas stated in a statement yesterday that "Israel's ongoing attacks for the fifth day have displaced a quarter of a million people from their destroyed homes." It highlighted that electricity and water supplies to Gaza have been cut off "threatening a humanitarian disaster," in addition to the "disgraceful" prevention of food and medical supplies from entering, "amounting to crimes against humanity and genocide." The only power plant in the Gaza Strip ceased operations yesterday due to a shortage of fuel necessary for its operation.
