Daijiworld Media Network- Gaza

Gaza, May 20: Israeli forces launched a series of heavy air and ground assaults across the Gaza Strip on Monday, killing at least 43 Palestinians since midnight in one of the deadliest escalations in recent weeks. The renewed offensive, concentrated around the southern city of Khan Younis, has prompted fresh international outrage, with Canada, France, and the United Kingdom warning of possible sanctions if Israel fails to halt its military campaign.

The Israeli military issued urgent evacuation orders to residents of Khan Younis, warning of an “unprecedented attack” and instructing thousands of civilians to flee the area. The large-scale bombardment came despite mounting global pressure and appeals for restraint.

As the humanitarian crisis deepens, a joint statement from 22 countries has urged Israel to allow immediate aid into Gaza, where critical shortages of food, water, and medical supplies have reached catastrophic levels.

In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defiantly rejected international calls for de-escalation, vowing instead to “press forward” with plans to gain full control over the entire Gaza Strip. “We will not stop until our mission is complete,” he said, dismissing sanctions threats as “political theatrics.”

According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, the overall Palestinian death toll from the ongoing war has risen to at least 53,475, with 121,398 others injured. However, the Government Media Office put the updated fatality figure at over 61,700, noting that thousands are still buried under the rubble and presumed dead.

The conflict was reignited following the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel, which left 1,139 Israelis dead and more than 200 taken hostage.

With the crisis entering its eighth month, global leaders and humanitarian agencies continue to call for an immediate ceasefire, warning that the worsening conditions in Gaza could spiral into an even greater humanitarian disaster.