Health officials in the Gaza Strip have reported that the death toll from the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has exceeded 44,000. The Gaza Health Ministry's count does not differentiate between civilians and combatants, but it has noted that more than half of the fatalities are women and children. On the other hand, the Israeli military claims to have eliminated over 17,000 militants, although evidence to support this assertion has not been provided.
Additionally, a rocket launched from Lebanon resulted in the death of a man and injuries to two others in northern Israel. The incident occurred near the border with Lebanon, in the town of Nahariya. The Magen David Adom rescue service confirmed the casualties following the rocket attack.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas began when Hamas-led militants breached southern Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 individuals, predominantly civilians, and the abduction of 250 others. Presently, around 100 hostages remain in Gaza, with a significant portion believed to have perished. Most of the remaining hostages were released during a previous cease-fire.
The Israeli offensive has caused extensive devastation across large areas of the Gaza Strip, displacing 90% of the region's 2.3 million inhabitants. In response to Hezbollah's attacks, Israel has conducted airstrikes in Lebanon, leading to further casualties and displacements. The conflict has escalated into a full-scale war, resulting in over 3,500 deaths in Lebanon and the displacement of more than 1 million individuals.
Furthermore, the International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defense minister, and Hamas officials, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the Gaza conflict and the October 2023 attacks that triggered Israel's offensive. While the warrants may have limited practical implications due to Israel and the United States not being ICC members, they could complicate efforts to negotiate a cease-fire.
