Why it matters:
Initially reported at 244, the number of martyrs in the Gaza Strip resulting from Israeli attacks has tragically risen to 356 within an hour, highlighting the scale of the devastation.
The big picture:
A total of 356 people were killed in the airstrikes Health Ministry said, according to Al Arabiya. At least 1,000 Palestinians suffered injuries.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he instructed the military to take “strong action” against Hamas in Gaza, hypocritically blaming the group for refusing to release captives and not agreeing to Israel’s proposals on the ceasefire.
What they're saying:
- A senior Hamas official has told the Reuters news agency that the Israeli attacks mean that Israel is unilaterally ending the ceasefire in Gaza that began on January 19.
- Hamas said it holds Israel’s Netanyahu and the “Nazi-Zionist occupation” responsible for the “treacherous” attacks on Gaza.
- Mohammed Zaqout, the director-general of Gaza hospitals, has called on the international community to intervene and force Israel to allow medical supplies into the enclave.
- The Yemeni Houthis have issued a statement denouncing Israel for its “resumption of aggression against the Gaza Strip”. “The Palestinian people will not be left alone in this battle,” said the group’s Supreme Political Council.
Key points:
- The ambulance service in the Gaza Strip is unable to assist those injured because the Israeli army had destroyed most of their equipment.
- Many women and children were among the killed
- Gaza’s Health Ministry says at least 61,700 Palestinians have been confirmed dead and 112,041 wounded in Israel’s war on Gaza.
Go deeper:
Israeli Air Strikes on Gaza Kills 244
Hossein Amiri
