Israeli Forces Attack Central and Southern Gaza; Reuters: 23 Palestinians Killed

Reuters reported, citing local doctors in Gaza, that Israeli tanks and aircraft attacked central and southern areas of the region during the night of Thursday and Friday, June 7 and 8. The news agency quoted residents of these areas stating that Israeli tanks simultaneously advanced in the west of the city of Rafah, located in southern Gaza. This comes as there are no signs of progress in the efforts of Qatari, Egyptian, and American mediators to establish a ceasefire in Gaza. According to the report, as a result of the Israeli attacks, 23 Palestinians were killed and several others were injured. Officials from the Gaza Ministry of Health, which is controlled by Hamas, state that over 36,000 Palestinians have been killed so far, most of whom are women and children. In contrast, Israel has accused this Iran-backed group of using civilians as human shields. Israel began its operations in Gaza following the October 7 attack by Hamas on Israel, in which Iran-backed militants killed around 1,200 people and took over 250 hostage. Many countries around the world, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Japan, and Israel, have designated Hamas as a terrorist organization. The ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip coincides with increasing tensions between Hezbollah and Israel. The United States has stated that the collapse of the Palestinian Authority would have widespread negative implications for Israel. Russia and China do not support the U.S. proposed resolution at the United Nations for a ceasefire in Gaza.