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By Amir Daftari
News Reporter
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The devastating toll of the 13-month war between Israel and Hamas continues to climb, with Gaza health officials reporting on Thursday the milestone of over 44,000 deaths had been exceeded and more than 104,000 injuries reported.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, more than half those killed were women and children. Thousands more are believed buried under rubble, inaccessible to rescuers due to ongoing fighting and destruction.
The conflict began after Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel in October 2023, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 250.
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Israel responded with a military offensive, citing Iran-backed Hamas' use of civilian areas for military operations as the primary cause of civilian casualties.
While Israel claims to have killed 17,000 Hamas militants, it has not provided evidence, and Gaza's residents face worsening conditions from 90 percent of the population having been displaced, with many currently sheltering in overcrowded camps.
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Conflict Escalates Along Israel-Lebanon Border
The war's repercussions have extended beyond Gaza, with heightened violence along Israel's northern border with Lebanon.
Hezbollah has intensified attacks since Hamas' initial assault. Israel has responded with airstrikes targeting Hezbollah positions, further destabilizing the region. Over 3,500 people in Lebanon have been killed, and more than one million displaced, according to Lebanese officials.
Hezbollah's rocket and drone attacks have killed over 70 Israelis and displaced 60,000 in northern Israel.
While the conflict with Hezbollah remains secondary to the Gaza offensive, its escalation risks sparking a broader regional war, adding pressure to already strained international diplomatic efforts.
Netanyahu and Israel Respond to ICC Warrants
As the war rages, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants Thursday for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and senior Hamas figures, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Netanyahu denounced the court's decision as "absurd and false," declaring Israel's actions in Gaza to be a just war.
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The warrants have also drawn sharp responses from other Israeli leaders. President Isaac Herzog called it a "dark day for justice," while Defense Minister Israel Katz described the move as "a moral disgrace."
Opposition leaders also criticized the ICC, with Benny Gantz calling it an act of "moral blindness." Despite the outrage, the warrants are unlikely to result in immediate arrests, while neither Israel nor its key ally, the United States, recognizes the court's jurisdiction.
Hamas Welcomes ICC Action
Meanwhile, Hamas has applauded the ICC for targeting Netanyahu and Gallant, calling the move a "historic precedent" and urging global cooperation to hold Israeli leaders accountable.
However, Hamas leaders remain silent on the warrants issued against their own figures, some of whom have been killed in the conflict.
The ICC's intervention, while symbolically significant, underscores the deepening divide between Israel, Hamas, and the international community.
With neither side yielding and civilian suffering mounting, prospects for a resolution remain grim.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press
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