Wednesday, August 21, 2024 - The Israeli army has ordered new evacuations from the central Gazan city of Deir el-Balah, signaling an expansion of the army's ground operations from southern Gaza to the central region.
The Gaza Health Ministry reports that at least 50 Palestinians have been killed and 124 wounded in Israeli attacks on Gaza in the last 24 hours. The casualties come amid the ongoing military offensive that Israel has dubbed "Operation Steadfast Rock."
In a concerning development, Israel has assassinated Khalil al-Muqdah, a senior commander in the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, in a drone strike on a car in Lebanon's Sidon, just 40km (25 miles) south of the capital Beirut. This strike represents an expansion of Israel's military campaign beyond the Gaza Strip.
The escalating violence comes as US diplomat Antony Blinken wrapped up a Middle East tour without securing an agreement between Israel and Hamas to cement the fragile ceasefire that has largely held since the last major conflict in 2021. Blinken urged stakeholders to get the ceasefire deal "over the finish line now" before the situation deteriorates further.
According to the latest figures, at least 40,223 people have been killed and 92,981 wounded in Israel's current offensive on Gaza. An estimated 1,139 people were also killed in Israel during the Hamas-led attacks that sparked the conflict in October 2023, with more than 200 taken captive.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, with medical facilities struggling to cope with the influx of casualties and widespread damage to infrastructure. International calls for an immediate ceasefire and de-escalation of the conflict have so far gone unheeded, as the two sides appear dug in for a prolonged confrontation.
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