Escalation of violence in Gaza: Israeli army reports high number of militants killed in offensive in Rafah

Amidst the escalating violence that has shaken the Gaza Strip in recent weeks, the Israeli Army has reported the high number of militants killed during their offensive in Rafah, at the southern end of the Palestinian territory. According to Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, at least 900 militants have lost their lives in this operation, which has been described as one of the longest and most devastating in the region in recent times. During a visit to a logistics base in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli Chief of Staff detailed that among the deceased are several commanders and operatives of Hamas, the Palestinian group that controls the Strip. Halevi emphasized that this operation aims to completely eliminate Hamas' infrastructure in the border city with Egypt, and warned that it will be prolonged and persistent. The Israeli offensive in Rafah, which began on May 6 despite calls from the international community to stop it, has taken a high toll in human lives and has caused a humanitarian crisis in the region. With thousands of displaced people living in precarious conditions, the arrival of Israeli tanks in the area has triggered a massive exodus to other areas of the enclave, in an attempt to escape the violence and bombings. In addition to the armed clashes, the Israeli military operation has had devastating consequences for the civilian population, such as the closure of the border crossing to Egypt, where humanitarian aid used to enter and chronically ill and injured people sought medical treatment. This situation has worsened the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where thousands of people are in a situation of abandonment and extreme precariousness. According to data from the Ministry of Health of the Gaza Strip, controlled by Hamas, the number of fatalities amounts to 37,925 Palestinians, with a concerning percentage of women and children among them, as well as 87,141 injured. Additionally, it is estimated that at least 10,000 bodies remain under the rubble of the buildings bombed since the beginning of the conflict, highlighting the high level of destruction and suffering that this war has left in Gaza. The international community has urged an end to the violence and the search for a diplomatic solution that allows to stop the bloodshed and ensure the protection of civilians in the region. Meanwhile, the situation in Gaza remains critical, with thousands of people trapped in the midst of an armed conflict that seems to have no end, and with suffering and desperation as daily companions in a territory marked by violence and uncertainty.