Israeli forces carried out a large-scale offensive across Gaza in the past 24 hours. The Israel Defense Forces said they targeted over 100 sites linked to Hamas, including buildings, rocket launchers, tunnels, and other infrastructure. Gaza’s health ministry reported that at least 60 people were killed during these attacks.
On Saturday, an Israeli drone struck near humanitarian aid trucks, killing six armed Palestinian men. Witnesses said these men were guarding aid convoys to prevent looting. The Israeli military said the men were members of Hamas, but Hamas denied this and said they were security personnel protecting the aid.
Since Monday, Israel reported allowing 388 aid trucks into Gaza through the Karem Shalom crossing. Palestinian aid organizations disputed this number, claiming only 119 trucks entered. The delivery of humanitarian aid remains a critical concern amid ongoing violence.
Reports have emerged alleging that Israeli soldiers forced Palestinian detainees to act as human shields. Testimonies from detainees and soldiers describe how detainees were made to enter dangerous buildings and tunnels while wearing uniforms and cameras. These reports suggest the practice has become common during the nearly 19-month conflict.
The Israeli military has denied officially using civilians as human shields and says it follows rules that forbid putting noncombatants at risk. The military also announced investigations into several reported incidents.
The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a large attack on southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and capturing 251 hostages. Israel responded with a major military campaign in Gaza. According to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, over 53,700 people have been killed in Israeli strikes, including many women and children, although the figures do not separate civilians from fighters.