The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) revealed that among the 200 hostages being held in Gaza, 20 are children under 18, and between 10 and 20 hostages are over 60 years old. According to the IDF, the majority of those held captive are still alive.
Gaza’s current state is described as a “hellhole” for civilians, with the UN’s agency for Palestinian refugees stressing the urgency of providing aid to the region before the situation worsens.
During his visit to the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, UN Chief Antonio Gutteres expressed optimism, expecting the first shipment of aid to reach Gaza within the next day or so.
Palestinian officials have reported a staggering death toll, with more than 4,000 people losing their lives in Gaza since the Hamas attacks began on October 7, resulting in over 1,400 casualties on the Israeli side.
In a recent development, an Orthodox Christian church compound in Gaza City, known to have housed hundreds seeking shelter, was hit. The incident has raised concerns about the safety and well-being of civilians caught in the conflict.
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Israel has stated that its airstrikes targeted a nearby Hamas base, which was being used to launch rockets into Israeli territory. The country has announced it is reviewing the incident.