The Gaza health ministry said in a statement on Wednesday that more than 31,272 Palestinians have been killed and 73,024 have been injured in Israel’s military offensive on Gaza.
In the past 24 hours, nearly 88 Palestinians were killed and 135 injured, the ministry added.
Deepening despair
Meanwhile, with every passing day, the relatives of hostages held in Gaza since October 7 face a deepening despair.
Relatives had hoped that a cease-fire deal would bring some of their loved ones home by the start of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month that began Monday. But, without any agreement, that informal deadline passed.
For many hostages’ families, after five emotionally draining months, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s promise of “total victory” in the war against Hamas now rings hollow.
During a November cease-fire, about 120 hostages were freed. That also led to the release of hundreds of Palestinians from Israeli jails. During an attempted rescue mission, three hostages were accidentally killed by Israeli forces.
Now, relatives are focused on bringing home the remaining captives, at least 34 of whom are dead, according to the Israeli government.
War between Israel and Hamas-led Palestinian militant groups has been taking place mainly in and around the Gaza Strip since 7 October 2023.
