Hamas defiant after Israeli air strike kills another high profile figure in Gaza

According to reports, an Israeli airstrike killed Hamas spokesman Abdul Latif Kanu'a in the northern Gaza Strip. The attack occurred at dawn on Thursday, targeting the tent where Kanu'a was located in the Jabalia refugee camp. The targeted strike against a high-profile Hamas figure signifies an escalation in the conflict.

Al-Aqsa TV reported that the attack resulted in multiple injuries. Hamas has confirmed Kanu'a's death, stating that the attack will only strengthen their resolve to resist. In a statement, Hamas said that attacks on the organization's leaders and spokespersons would not shake their will, but only increase their determination to continue the path of liberation. This declaration underscores the group's unwavering commitment to its cause.

Kanu'a is the latest senior Hamas figure to be killed since Israel resumed the war last week, in what appears to be a targeted assassination operation. Earlier this week, Israel also killed senior Hamas figures Salah Badawi and Ismail Bahum. Both were members of Hamas's 20-member political bureau. According to Reuters, citing Hamas sources, 11 members of the decision-making body have been killed by Israel since the start of the war in October 2023. The elimination of key leaders aims to weaken Hamas's operational capabilities and influence.

Since Israel broke the ceasefire agreement last week, at least 855 people have been killed, more than half of whom were children and women. Al Jazeera reported that the ongoing Israeli bombardment of Gaza killed at least 20 Palestinians in the early hours of Thursday, with many more injured. Among the dead, at least two died from their wounds after an Israeli airstrike hit a tent housing a displaced family in Zawaida. In addition, a Palestinian man died from his wounds after an Israeli airstrike hit a house in the Shuja'iya neighborhood, east of Gaza City. The renewed hostilities have resulted in a devastating toll on civilian lives and infrastructure.

The total death toll from Israel's war on Gaza since October 7, 2023, has reached 50,208, with another 113,910 injured. The Geneva-based Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor stated that an average of 103 Palestinians have been killed and 223 injured daily by Israeli forces since the resumption of the war last week. The escalating violence has prompted international condemnation and calls for a ceasefire.

In a strongly worded statement, the organization accused Israel of deliberately attacking civilians, including those seeking refuge in tents and the ruins of their homes. The human rights group condemned the targeting of vulnerable populations amidst the ongoing conflict. These actions raise serious questions about adherence to international humanitarian law.

Elsewhere in Gaza, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society said they remain unable to contact their nine staff members who were attacked by Israeli forces in Rafah five days ago. The staff members were en route to Tel al-Sultan to provide treatment to the wounded, and approximately 50,000 Palestinians were surrounded in the area by Israeli forces earlier this week. The inability to reach aid workers highlights the challenges and dangers faced by humanitarian organizations operating in the conflict zone.

Haaretz reported that the Israeli military is facing a growing crisis with its reserve forces as it prepares to step up operations in Gaza. Tens of thousands of reservists will be called up, but a growing number are refusing to serve, citing exhaustion, disillusionment with government policies, and uncertainty about the war's objectives. The potential for manpower shortages could impact the military's ability to sustain operations.

A senior reserve commander told Haaretz that brigade and battalion leaders are dealing with a large number of cases of troops refusing to report for duty, with many blaming the government for failing to secure the release of Israeli captives. Others are protesting plans to exempt ultra-Orthodox men from military service, as well as concerns about judicial reforms. Military officials insist that the reserve forces remain combat-ready, but the cracks in morale are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. The internal divisions within the military reflect broader societal tensions and disagreements over the war's objectives and conduct.