Israeli attacks in Gaza and drone raid on US base: Tensions rise in the region

The Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip since October 7 has led to a new crisis in the region. The Israeli army has been bombarding various parts of Gaza from air, land and sea in response to Hamas rocket attacks on Israeli territory. According to the Hamas Health Ministry, 140 people were killed and hundreds were injured in the attacks. It was stated that 20 members of the same family were among the dead.

One of the areas where Israeli attacks intensified is Khan Younis city in the south of Gaza. Here, Israeli forces surrounded and bombarded Amal and Nasser hospitals. In a statement released by the Palestinian Red Crescent on its X account, it was reported that 3 people were killed and 4 people were injured near Amal Hospital. Noting that all of these victims are displaced persons, the statement said that the situation in Amal Hospital is ‘tragic’. It was reported that approximately 18 thousand people took shelter in Nasser Hospital and graves were dug around the hospital.

The Israeli army announced that dozens of ‘armed terrorists’ were killed in clashes in central Gaza. According to AFP, the Israeli army raided ‘terrorist’ targets in Khan Younis and found weapons and military equipment at the residence of Hamas members. The Israeli army also announced that it struck the house of Hamas leader Ismail Heniyye in Gaza.

Another development that raised tensions in the region was an armed unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) attack on a US base in the Jordanian border region. In a statement released by the US Central Command (CENTCOM), 3 US soldiers were killed and 25 were wounded in the attack. US President Joe Biden said the attack was carried out by ‘radical Iranian-backed militant groups’ and emphasized that those responsible would be held to account.

The humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip is deepening. According to the United Nations (UN), more than 1.3 million Palestinians are trapped in Rafah, the southernmost city in Gaza, living in extremely difficult conditions near the closed border with Egypt. Harsh weather conditions are exacerbating these hardships. The UN has called for urgent humanitarian aid to be delivered to the Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile, protests have been organized in Israel against the attacks on the Gaza Strip. Some protesters demanded that no aid be allowed to reach Gaza until the hostages are released and that humanitarian aid trucks be prevented from entering the Kerem Shalom crossing point near Rafah. Several far-right Israeli ministers joined thousands of Israelis demonstrating in Jerusalem demanding the rebuilding of settlements in the Gaza Strip.

A 4-day humanitarian ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas entered into force on Friday, November 24. According to the agreement, it was agreed that 150 Palestinians in Israeli prisons would be released in exchange for 50 Israeli prisoners held by Hamas. Qatar’s Foreign Ministry announced yesterday that the ‘humanitarian pause’ was extended for two more days as a result of the mediation efforts between Hamas and Israel.