By Fawaz Adebisi
The war between Israel and Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza, has escalated to a new level of violence, leaving thousands of people dead and many more injured.
Israel has launched a massive offensive against Gaza, targeting Hamas leaders, rocket launchers, tunnels, and civilian infrastructure.
Israel says it is acting in self-defense after Hamas fired hundreds of rockets into its territory on October 7.
Hamas has vowed to continue its resistance and has fired more rockets into Israel, some reaching as far as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
Hamas says it is fighting for the rights of the Palestinians who live under Israeli occupation and blockade.
The most deadly attack so far occurred on Tuesday, when an Israeli strike hit the Jabalya refugee camp in northern Gaza, killing 50 people and wounding 150.
The strike was aimed at a Hamas commander, but also hit a nearby hospital that was treating hundreds of casualties.
The Jabalya refugee camp is the largest in Gaza, home to tens of thousands of people who have fled from other parts of the besieged enclave.
Many of them have no place to go, as Israel has warned residents of Gaza City to evacuate ahead of more strikes.
Gaza’s health ministry said the death toll in the city has risen to 9,061 people, including 3,760 children.
Nearly 2,600 reports of missing people, including 1,150 children missing or buried under the rubble, have been filed, the ministry added.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire, as the territory faces shortages of food, water, electricity, and medical supplies.
The United Nations has called for an immediate ceasefire and access for aid workers to reach the affected areas.
Some Palestinians and foreign nationals have managed to cross into Egypt through the Rafah border crossing, which was opened on Wednesday.
Egypt has also offered to mediate between Israel and Hamas to end the conflict.
However, both sides have shown no signs of backing down, as the war enters its fourth week with no end in sight.
