The continued offensive onslaught in Gaza by the Israel Defense Force has claimed the lives of 48 people in southern and central Gaza. According to Palestinian authorities, half of the victims were women and children.
The violence seems to be escalating as the calls for a ceasefire become louder and louder. Tensions are also rising on the West Bank as well.
Three Palestinian militants opened fire on morning traffic at a highway checkpoint, killing one person and wounding five others, according to Israeli police.
Last week, a member of Israel's War Cabinet said new attempts are underway to finally reach a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, which could result in a pause in the violence in Gaza as well as bring about the release of the Israeli hostages still in Hamas custody.
But former military chief and defense minister Benny Gantza told the AP that unless Hamas agrees to release the remaining hostages, Israel will launch its ground offensive into Rafah, the last remaining refuge for Palestinians, during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan-which begins in March.
Over 1 million Palestinians are currently crammed into Rafah after fleeing fighting and airstrikes elsewhere in the territory. Though Israel has said it will evacuate the city before attacking, it is unclear where the refugees are expected to go, seeing as though much of the rest of Gaza and the West Bank is still engulfed in fighting.
Nearly 30,000 Palestinians have been killed. On Wednesday, the heads of 13 UN agencies and five other aid groups released a joint plea for a ceasefire over growing concerns of mass casualties that will certainly occur if and when Israel attacks a small town stuff with over a million scared, exposed, and hungry civilians.
"Diseases are rampant. Famine is looming," they said, adding that aid workers are facing "shelling, death, movement restrictions, and a breakdown of civil order." They called for the opening of more entry points for aid to Gaza - including in the north -- security assurances of safe passage for distribution and a release of hostages."
