Israeli Tanks Enter Deir al-Balah, Hostage Concerns Grow Amid Gaza Crisis

On Monday, Israeli tanks entered Deir al-Balah in Gaza for the first time during the ongoing conflict. This southern and eastern part of the city is densely populated with Palestinians displaced by the war. The Israeli military suspects Hamas may be holding some of the remaining hostages in this area. Following evacuation orders, hundreds of civilians fled, but tank shelling still struck homes and mosques, killing at least three Palestinians and injuring several others.

In nearby Khan Younis, an airstrike killed at least five people, including a family of four living in a tent. According to Gaza’s health ministry, at least 130 Palestinians were killed and over 1,000 injured across Gaza in the past 24 hours alone  one of the deadliest recent days in the conflict.

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The Hostage Families Forum in Israel expressed outrage and fear, demanding clarity from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the military on how they plan to avoid putting remaining hostages at risk. It’s estimated that at least 20 of the 50 hostages still held by Hamas are alive. Families fear that military operations in known hostage zones could lead to deaths or missed rescue opportunities.

The army had previously avoided Deir al-Balah due to hostage concerns, making this latest move especially controversial. As talks for a possible 60-day ceasefire continue with mediation by Egypt, Qatar, and the U.S., the increasing death toll and destruction could undermine progress. A Hamas official warned that the humanitarian toll might impact negotiations, saying the growing hunger and violence are complicating any potential truce.

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As Israeli forces expand operations in Gaza, the humanitarian situation has grown increasingly dire. The Gaza Health Ministry reported growing starvation and warned of "mass deaths" due to lack of food, fuel, and medical supplies. At least 19 people, including children, have died of hunger since Saturday. Hospitals are barely operational, with staff relying on one meal a day while treating waves of malnourished and exhausted civilians.

In a rare move, Israeli undercover forces reportedly entered a medical facility in southern Gaza and detained Dr. Marwan Al-Hams, the head of Gaza’s field hospitals. The raid killed a journalist and injured another. The International Committee of the Red Cross, which operates the facility, confirmed that it treated victims but expressed concern about safety around the hospital. Israel has repeatedly targeted hospitals, accusing Hamas of using them for military purposes, which Hamas denies.

Meanwhile, aid remains stuck just outside Gaza’s borders. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) stated that it has food supplies enough for three months but cannot distribute them due to Israeli restrictions. UNRWA said its staff and Gaza residents are sending “desperate messages” about starvation as food prices skyrocket.

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Over the weekend, at least 67 Palestinians were reportedly killed while waiting for aid trucks, with 36 more killed the day before. Israel claimed its troops fired warning shots at what it described as an "immediate threat" and questioned the casualty figures. Despite this, Israel maintains it views humanitarian aid as a high priority.

The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants attacked Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Since then, over 59,000 Palestinians have been killed, and nearly the entire population of Gaza has been displaced. Ceasefire talks remain uncertain amid rising deaths and deepening humanitarian collapse.