Israel Marks 700 Days Since Hamas Attacks, War in Gaza Continues

Commemoration of October 7th Attacks

• 🗓️ Today marks 700 days since the Hamas militants' attacks on Israel on October 7th, 2023, which initiated the ongoing war in Gaza.
• 🎗️ In Tel Aviv's hostage square, activists displayed an SOS sign and a sand timer to symbolize the urgency for the remaining hostages still held in Gaza.
• ✊ Protests are planned in Israel to mark the 700 days, calling for an end to the war and the return of hostages.

Hostage Situation and Military Operations

• 💔 It is estimated that 20 of the remaining hostages are still alive, with their families expressing deep concern over Israel's recent incursion into Gaza City.
• 🏙️ Israel states its military now controls 40% of Gaza City.
• 🤝 Hamas has indicated openness to returning hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, a proposal dismissed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office as "spin."

Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza

• 📈 According to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry, over 64,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began.
• ⚠️ Estimates of the total death toll may be higher due to people buried under rubble and the crisis in Gaza's hospitals.
• 🍲 A UN-backed panel confirmed famine in Gaza, with half a million people in the north at risk of starvation, described by the UN Secretary General as a "man-made disaster."

International Scrutiny and Israeli Stance

• ⚖️ The International Association of Genocide Scholars stated last month that Israel's conduct in Gaza meets the legal definition of genocide.
• 🚫 Israel has consistently rejected genocide accusations, asserting its objectives are to destroy Hamas and ensure Gaza no longer poses a threat.