The total death toll on day six of the Israel-Hamas war has reached at least 2,600.
Israel says 1,200 were killed as Hamas tore out of Gaza on 7 October, slaughtering civilians in their homes, including children, women, the elderly, and foreign nationals, and massacring revellers at a music festival. Civilians kidnapped by the militants remain in hostage.
Palestine’s latest death toll stands at 1,417 and rising as Israel unleashes a counter offensive bombarding the coastal enclave with airstrikes and enforcing a total siege, cutting off essential services to the population of two million, including electricity, fuel, water, and food supplies.
Israel’s National Infrastructure, Energy and Water Minister Israel Katz has made his position clear on allowing humanitarian aid to reach the Palestinian population in Gaza. On Thursday he posted on X;
“Humanitarian aid to Gaza? No electrical switch will be turned on, no water hydrant will be opened, and no fuel truck will enter until the Israeli abductees are returned home. Humanitarianism for humanitarianism. And no one will preach us morality.”
סיוע הומניטרי לעזה? אף מתג חשמל לא יורם, שיבר מים לא יפתח ומשאית דלק לא תיכנס עד להשבת החטופים הישראלים הביתה. הומניטרי תמורת הומניטרי. ושאף אחד לא יטיף לנו מוסר.
— ישראל כ”ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) October 12, 2023
Meanwhile, on Thursday, Israel launched attacks on major airports in Syria’s capital Damascus and in the northern city of Aleppo, Syrian state TV announced. No casualties were reported.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) warned that five Palestinian journalists have been killed since Saturday’s assault by Hamas, while covering the Israeli military response.
