Hamas Claims 241 Deaths in Gaza Within a Day of Israel-Gaza Conflict

According to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry, at least 241 people have been killed in the past 24 hours as Israel's military operation continues in the territory. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has condemned the war as a "grave crime" against his people. Israel's army chief, Herzi Halevi, has stated that the conflict with Hamas will continue for several more months. Israel has reported hitting over 100 sites on Tuesday, with reports suggesting that ground operations may be imminent in central Gaza. Explosions could be heard from Gaza Strip to Israel in the early hours of Wednesday. Gaza's health ministry has also reported that 382 people were injured within the same 24-hour period. The warring sides' claims have not been independently verified. The war began on October 7 after Hamas carried out a series of deadly attacks on Israeli communities. According to the ministry, more than 20,915 Palestinians, mostly children and women, have been killed in over 11 weeks of fighting. President Abbas has described the war as a catastrophic event and warned that the occupied West Bank could also be at risk of collapsing. He accused the US of prolonging the conflict by vetoing UN resolutions for a ceasefire. Lt Gen Halevi said that the war would continue for many more months to ensure that Israel's achievements are maintained. He acknowledged that the terrain was complex but vowed to arrest or eliminate Hamas leadership. Reports suggest that Egypt has proposed a ceasefire plan that includes the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, leading to the suspension of Israel's offensive. Previous temporary truce deals mediated by Qatar have seen hostage exchanges. So far, both Israel and Hamas have rejected calls for a lasting ceasefire.