Hamas-led Health Ministry in Gaza reports over 10,000 casualties in Israel-Gaza conflict

According to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza, more than 10,000 people have been killed in the Palestinian territory since Israel commenced bombing last month. Out of those killed, over 4,000 were children, surpassing the United Nations' figure of about 5,400 killed in Gaza during all previous conflicts with Hamas since 2007. Israel initiated the bombing after Hamas allegedly killed 1,400 people and kidnapped over 200 others on 7 October. Israel claims to be targeting Hamas infrastructure and fighters to eliminate the threat it poses. US President Joe Biden has cast doubt on the accuracy of the health ministry's figures, while the Israel Defense Forces caution against trusting information provided by a terrorist organization. However, the World Health Organization agrees with the credibility of the health ministry's data. In the latest wave of bombings, the Israeli military launched an intense assault on Gaza, hitting 450 targets within 24 hours. The health ministry reported more than 200 deaths resulting from the overnight attacks. The communication blackout in Gaza has made it challenging to gather information, with people resorting to using donkeys and cars to transport dead bodies due to the lack of access to ambulance services. The Palestine Red Crescent Society also lost contact with its teams during this communication blackout. Although communication was restored on Monday, obtaining information from Gaza City remains difficult. The Israeli military claims its troops have reached the coastline in the south of Gaza City, effectively splitting the territory into two. In an exceptional joint statement, the heads of major UN agencies have called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, emphasizing that the loss of life on both sides is horrific. They also demand the unconditional release of hostages taken by Hamas during the attacks on 7 October. The UN reports that 88 people working for UNRWA have been killed since then, marking the highest number of UN fatalities in a single conflict. Additionally, the UN says that 48 of its sites across Gaza have sustained damage. Israel has rejected the ideas of a ceasefire and a humanitarian pause, while its Arab neighbors and the United States support the latter solution. Prime Minister Netanyahu stated that Israel will continue to fight against Hamas with full force.