Israel Continues Attack on Gaza, At Least Sixty Palestinians Killed

(Patria) - The Israeli army continued its attack on Gaza and the Gaza Strip on Saturday. At least sixty Palestinians were killed, according to Gaza health authorities, Reuters reported.

The attack occurred at a time when ten countries, including Australia, Belgium, the United Kingdom, and Canada, are set to formally recognize an independent Palestinian state on Monday, ahead of the annual gathering of leaders at the United Nations General Assembly next week.

The intensified Israeli military campaign of demolishing high-rise buildings in Gaza began this week with a ground offensive. Israeli forces, controlling the eastern suburbs of Gaza, are bombing the Sheikh Radwan and Tel Al-Hawa areas, from where they would be positioned to advance towards the central and western parts of the city. Most of Gaza's population has taken refuge in these areas.

The army estimates that it has demolished up to twenty skyscrapers in Gaza in the last two weeks. According to Israeli media, more than 500,000 people left the city in September. Hamas disputes this, claiming that just under 300,000 people left, and around 900,000 remained, including Israeli hostages.

On Telegram, Hamas's military wing previously published a doctored photograph of Israeli hostages, warning that their lives were endangered by the Israeli military operation in Gaza City.

Hamas estimates that since August 11, the Israeli army has destroyed or damaged more than 1,800 residential buildings in Gaza City and destroyed more than 13,000 tents housing displaced families.

In almost two years, the Israeli offensive has killed more than 65,000 Palestinians, spread hunger, destroyed most of the infrastructure, and displaced most of the population, in many cases multiple times. The war began after Hamas led attacks into Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. A total of 48 hostages remain in Gaza, and about twenty are believed to be alive.

Israel claims the hunger crisis in Gaza is exaggerated and that much of the blame lies with Hamas. COGAT, the branch of the Israeli army that oversees aid into the enclave, previously stated that Hamas fired at UN teams and prevented the opening of a new humanitarian route in the southern Gaza Strip.

Hamas has categorically rejected the claims, saying that criminal gangs protected by Israeli firepower and air support are attacking aid trucks, looting, and stealing.

"Day and night, we call on UN organizations to carry out their humanitarian and aid work," a senior Hamas media official told Reuters.