Israel continues to bombard the enclave, where Palestinians are living in harrowing conditions, despite international calls for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas to allow aid into the blockaded Gaza Strip. The leaders of the United States and Russia are at the forefront of international calls for a ceasefire.
The health ministry in Hamas-controlled Gaza reported on Tuesday that 704 Palestinians, including 305 children, had been killed. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, this was the highest number recorded in a single day since the conflict began nearly three weeks ago.
The White House reported that President Joe Biden and Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke on Tuesday and agreed to increase diplomatic efforts to maintain regional stability and prevent the conflict from escalating.
Deadly clashes between the Israeli military and Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon along the border have increased. Iran has long supported Hezbollah and Hamas to consolidate power in the region and urged Israel to stop attacking Gaza.
Israeli jets reportedly attacked Syrian army infrastructure and mortar launchers in response to Syrian rocket fire on Wednesday. Syria has not immediately responded. Israeli attack kills eight Syrian soldiers, Syrian media reports.
The U.S. has advised Israel to delay a planned ground assault while it attempts to free more of the more than 200 hostages still being held by Hamas in Gaza.
The Palestinian health ministry in Hamas-controlled Gaza stated that at least 5,791 Palestinians, including 2,360 children, had been killed by Israeli bombardments since October 7.
Egypt let eight trucks with food, water, and medicine into Gaza late Tuesday. U.N. agencies estimate a 20-fold demand.
The US and Russia presented opposing humanitarian aid plans for Palestinian civilians at the UN. Washington wants fighting pauses, and Russia wants a humanitarian ceasefire. Pauses are shorter and less formal than ceasefires.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a Gaza humanitarian ceasefire last week.
Due to damage or lack of fuel, more than one-third of Gaza hospitals and nearly two-thirds of primary health care clinics closed, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
The Israeli military reiterated on Tuesday that it would block fuel entry to prevent Hamas from taking it.
The regional sources said Qatari mediators are urging Hamas to release women and children faster without expecting Israeli concessions.
Hamas released a mother and daughter with dual U.S.-Israeli citizenship on Friday and two Israeli civilian women on Monday.
