The current round of the Palestine-Israel conflict has reached its six-month mark with mounting casualties, deepening humanitarian crisis, and many spillover effects.
CAIRO, April 8 (Xinhua) -- The current round of the Palestine-Israel conflict has been going on for six months, yet no permanent ceasefire has been reached. While the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is worsening, tensions are spilling over into neighboring areas like southern Lebanon, Syria and the Red Sea. Here are the latest developments of the conflict.
HEART-WRENCHING CASUALTIES
During the surprise attack by Hamas on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, some 1,200 people were killed, and more than 200 others were taken hostage. Israeli media the Times of Israel said on Saturday that 129 hostages remain in Gaza, and not all of them are alive.
The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to 33,175, as a result of Israeli attacks, Gaza's health authorities announced on Sunday.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza intensifies as Israel's military attacks persist alongside a blockade on the enclave.
According to figures released by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, nearly 1.9 million people, or more than 85 percent of Gaza's population, have been displaced. The Israeli blockade has obstructed humanitarian aid delivery, with the UN warning of famine and malnutrition in Gaza.
The conflict also extends beyond the Gaza Strip, with tensions between Palestinians and Israeli troops in the West Bank escalating.
Since Oct. 7, 2023, more than 450 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
The conflict has also changed the Palestinian political landscape. In February, Mohammad Shtayyeh resigned as Palestinian prime minister, and Mohammad Mustafa's new government was sworn in late last month.
GROWING INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE
As casualties mount and the humanitarian crisis deepens in the Gaza Strip, Israel faces increasing global isolation.
The UN has issued stern warnings about the worsening situation in Gaza, including famine and disease.
In January, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Israel to prevent acts of genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, after South Africa filed an application to the ICJ for proceedings against Israel.
In February, 26 member states of the European Union called for an "immediate humanitarian pause that would lead to a sustainable ceasefire" in Gaza.
Notably, pressure has intensified from the United States, a staunch supporter that has provided Israel with billions of dollars of military assistance since the outbreak of the conflict. On Thursday, U.S. President Joe Biden warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that U.S. support for Israel would hinge on Israel's efforts to protect civilians in Gaza.
On Friday, Israel announced the reopening of key routes to allow humanitarian aid to enter the famine-stricken Gaza Strip.
A temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas-led Palestinian militant groups in the Gaza Strip took effect from Nov. 24 to Nov. 30, 2023. During the truce, Hamas released 105 individuals, while Israel freed 240 Palestinian prisoners in exchange.
The UN Security Council on March 25 adopted Resolution 2728 demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza during the month of Ramadan, and calling for the release of all hostages.
Ceasefire talks have been alternately held in Doha and Cairo, yet no breakthrough has been achieved. Hamas seeks a complete cessation of the fighting, while Israel only agrees to a temporary ceasefire and rejects Hamas' demand for displaced civilians to return home.
On Saturday, Hamas announced sending a delegation to ongoing talks in Cairo, attended by officials from the United States, Qatar, Egypt, and Israel.
SPILLOVER EFFECTS
The conflict between Israel and Hamas has generated many spillover effects.
Confrontations between Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israeli forces went on non-stop along the Lebanon-Israel border since October last year, resulting in casualties on both sides.
To show solidarity with the Palestinians, the Houthis in Yemen have launched dozens of missile and drone attacks on ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden since November last year over their suspected links to Israel.
Following joint U.S. and British airstrikes on Houthi targets in January, the Houthis have targeted vessels believed to be associated with these countries.
Militants have targeted U.S. bases for their support for Israel during the conflict, as evidenced by a drone attack in January that killed three U.S. troops near Jordan's border with Syria.
Israel has conducted attacks in Lebanon and Syria, targeting senior Hamas and Iranian leaders.
On April 1, Israel launched a missile strike on the consular section of the Iranian embassy in the Syrian capital Damascus, killing seven Iranians, including two veteran commanders of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, and a number of Syrian civilians.
Following the attack, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei vowed in a message that the country's "brave men" would inflict "a regret-inducing punishment" on Israel for its "criminal" attack. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi also vowed that the "cowardly crime will not go unanswered."■
