Israel-Hamas War death toll crosses 1,900, Israel govt urges people to not share hostage videos

In the middle of escalating tensions in the Israel-Hamas war, concerns about a deepening humanitarian crisis are taking centre stage, with more than 1,900 lives lost on both sides.

In response to the viral hostage videos from Gaza on social media, Israeli school officials have reportedly advised parents to remove social media applications such as Instagram, TikTok, and X (previously known as Twitter) from their children's smartphones.

This precaution aims to shield them from encountering disturbing images and videos linked to the Israel-Hamas conflict.

As the reciprocal attacks between Israel and Hamas-controlled Gaza enter their fifth day on Wednesday (October 11), speculations of a widening war and potential American involvement loom large, with a trail of destruction and suffering in their wake.

Gaza Division, a closed military zone

• The IDF, on Wednesday (October 11) said that the Gaza Division is designated as a closed military zone, strictly forbidding entry due to severe security risks and legal violations.
• They added that IDF personnel are engaged in operations, and unauthorised entry would jeopardise lives and hamper their tasks.

The IDF urges the public to stay vigilant and refrain from accessing the restricted area to facilitate ongoing security operations.

Here is the map the IDF issued:

Rockets from Lebanon and Syria

• According to the Associated Press, fresh exchanges of fire over Israel's northern borders with militants in Lebanon and Syria on Tuesday (October 10) have opened up speculations of a two-way war for Israel to deal with in the coming days.
• The rockets fired from the North towards Israel prompted Israeli shelling in return, were mostly intercepted, while some fell on open fields inside the Israeli territory. 
• "What we do know is that we retaliated fire toward the sources of fire, and currently the situation there is quiet."

  - Israel's Lieutenant Colonel Conricus to Reuters

   

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Biden's warns

• While Israel reportedly escalated its response to the Hamas attack on Gaza with bombings and a blockade, the possibility of a ground offensive can't be discounted.
• U.S. President Joe Biden again pledged support for Israel and issued a stern warning to any country or organisation considering taking advantage of the situation, hinting at a probable attack from Hezbollah, seated in Lebanon.

Violence in West Bank and Eastern Jerusalem

• Violence escalated in the West Bank as well as in East Jerusalem, where Israeli authorities reported the killing of two Palestinians who had fired fireworks at the Israeli police on Tuesday evening, reported Reuters.

ALSO READ: Why the Israel-Hamas war resonates with the Yom Kippur War of 1973

Blocked Gaza's face humanitarian crisis

• Gaza, the densely populated coastal enclave, has borne the brunt of the violence, with over 900 killed and 4,600 wounded, according to Gaza's health ministry.
• The narrow stretch of land is currently said to be encircled by the Israeli Defense Forces on two sides, with the Mediterranean Sea to one side and the remaining side with the Egyptian border, which closed on Tuesday following Israeli airstrikes.

ALSO READ: While Israel and Hamas fight it out, Egypt has closed its border crossing with Gaza

• Many of the victims are civilians, caught in the crossfire and targeted in their homes and on the streets. Scores of Israelis and foreign nationals have been captured and taken as hostages by Hamas.

"No place is safe in Gaza, as you see they hit everywhere," said a resident of Gaza.

• The United Nations said that more than 2,00,000 Gazans have been made homeless, with many seeking refuge in schools or on the streets.
• Hospitals are reportedly overwhelmed, with supplies running critically low, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.

ALSO READ: Hamas's attack on Israel isn't just about Palestine, they want a piece of Arab-Israeli normalisation too

The situation remains fluid, and the risk of further escalation and a protracted humanitarian crisis persists.

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