Gaza's Health Ministry, controlled by Hamas, reports over 25,000 casualties.

According to the Hamas-run health ministry, the death toll in Gaza has now surpassed 25,000 since the start of Israel's offensive. In the past 24 hours alone, there have been 178 deaths, making it one of the deadliest days in the war so far. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has once again rejected the idea of creating a Palestinian state. The White House has acknowledged that the US and Israel have differing views on a two-state solution. The Israeli offensive began in response to an attack by Hamas fighters on October 7th, which resulted in the deaths of 1,300 people in southern Israel and over 240 hostages. The current focus of Israel's offensive is on southern Gaza, specifically the city of Khan Younis, where they believe top Hamas commanders are hiding. Israeli forces have discovered a long tunnel filled with booby-traps and blast doors, but no hostages were found. Renewed attacks have also taken place in the north of Gaza, where Hamas reportedly seized an opening near the town of Jabalia. Despite Israel's superior military capabilities, they continue to face significant resistance throughout Gaza. US intelligence agencies estimate that only 20-30% of Hamas fighters have been killed, falling short of Netanyahu's goal of completely destroying the group. Hamas still possesses enough munitions to continue attacking Israel for months. The lack of progress, failure to capture or kill top Hamas leaders, and the unresolved issue of the Israeli hostages have led to growing discontent within Israel. Protests by relatives of the hostages and a small anti-war movement are calling for Netanyahu to prioritize their release rather than pursuing the impossible goal of eradicating Hamas. However, most Israelis continue to support their country and military, but their support for Netanyahu is waning. The disagreement over the endgame is creating tensions between Netanyahu and Israel's Western allies. Netanyahu, in his communication with US President Joe Biden, reiterated his rejection of a future Palestinian state. He stated that Israel must retain security control over the entire area west of the Jordan River, including the occupied West Bank. This stance is disappointing to UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps and the White House, as both hope the ongoing bloodshed can lead to meaningful diplomacy and a two-state solution. Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, goes one step further, calling the refusal to accept a Palestinian state completely unacceptable and warning that it will prolong the conflict and threaten global peace and security.