According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza, Israeli military operations since October 7, 2023, have resulted in 70,925 fatalities. Additionally, the total number of injuries has surged to 171,185 since the onset of conflict.
In the past 48 hours alone, 13 bodies were transferred to hospitals, including six newly reported fatalities, while 20 individuals sustained injuries. Despite a ceasefire lasting over two months, the Israeli regime continues its bombardment and maintains a cruel blockade, obstructing essential aid from entering Gaza.
The dire situation has left many children and women exposed to severe cold and lacking necessary supplies. In light of another infant’s death from hypothermia in Khan Younis, Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem condemned the ongoing deaths of Gaza’s children as a blatant crime committed by the Israeli occupiers, exacerbated by the continued blockade preventing reconstruction efforts following the genocidal war waged against them.Qassem expressed deep regret that global appeals for adequate shelter and temporary housing have failed to mobilize support for the children of Gaza, who are suffering from both bombardment and now the harsh winter cold.
Furthermore, Qassem warned that the ongoing violations of Palestinian rights by the Israeli regime and the hindrance to Gaza’s reconstruction have pushed the humanitarian situation to the brink of explosion.
The World Health Organization’s Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has projected that over 100,000 children and 37,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women in Gaza will suffer from acute malnutrition by April 2026, emphasizing the fragility of the fight against famine in the region.In response to a recent food security report warning of the potential return of famine to Gaza, Ghebreyesus highlighted that progress in combating hunger remains precarious due to humanitarian operational restrictions, widespread infrastructure destruction, and the collapse of livelihoods, compounded by severe limitations on the entry of essential goods into Gaza.
A joint statement from the U.S., Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey following a meeting of their foreign ministers noted significant progress in the initial phase of the Gaza agreement, which includes tangible outcomes like facilitating humanitarian aid, returning remains, exchanging prisoners, and reducing hostilities.The statement emphasized that the second phase of the agreement will focus on empowering a governing body in Gaza operating under a single, local authority. The parties reiterated their commitment to all aspects of the U.S. peace plan and called on all involved parties to adhere to their commitments and exercise maximum restraint to avoid actions that could escalate tensions.
The Egyptian Foreign Minister indicated the anticipated timeline for the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, stressing the importance of significant steps such as the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, weapon control issues, the deployment of international forces, and the establishment of a Peace Council to oversee Gaza’s governance.U.S. officials have reportedly reached out to Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, seeking troops for a controversial international force in Gaza as part of the so-called ‘Trump Peace Plan.’
Israeli media reports suggest that Israeli officials are contemplating a resumption of large-scale military operations in Gaza, despite ongoing ceasefire violations. Netanyahu’s recent meeting with security and military officials underscored the need for preparedness for renewed incursions into Gaza, highlighting the Israeli assessment that Washington may struggle to form a multinational force for ceasefire stabilization, thereby elevating military action as the only viable option.The final decision regarding military action will follow discussions between Netanyahu and former President Trump as Israeli officials express skepticism about the feasibility of the U.S. peace plan.
