Gaza live updates: toll rises as ground offensive widens
Live updates from Gaza City describe a mounting humanitarian crisis as Israeli ground forces push deeper into the city. The health ministry in Gaza, administered by Hamas, says the death toll has surpassed 66,000 and more than 168,162 people have been injured since the start of the conflict. Authorities report 79 Palestinians killed in the last 24 hours. Independent verification remains difficult because international media are not consistently allowed access in the Gaza Strip.
Frontline moves and civilian impact
Witnesses and local doctors say Israeli tanks and infantry have penetrated residential districts including Sabra, Tel Al-Hawa, Sheikh Radwan, and Al-Naser, drawing closer to Gaza Citys heart and western neighborhoods where thousands sought refuge. The ground campaign began on September 16 after weeks of intensive air strikes that displaced hundreds of thousands but left many civilians behind.
Desperate calls for aid
Palestinian media on Telegram report ongoing bombardments on residential buildings as fighting spreads toward the citys center. Aid corridors remain precarious, and relief teams struggle to reach the wounded amid ongoing hostilities.
Global responses: protests, flotillas and diplomacy
In Berlin, tens of thousands demonstrated for an end to Israels offensive, carrying Palestinian flags and banners invoking basic rights such as food and water. Police counted about 60,000 participants, though organizers claimed up to 100,000. The protest highlighted a shift in German public sentiment and the challenge of balancing alliance politics with humanitarian concerns.
Meanwhile a new humanitarian flotilla is under way from Sicily. A ten-ship convoy organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition and Thousand Madleens to Gaza aims to break the blockade by delivering medical supplies, dry goods and school materials to Gaza. The mission builds on previous attempts to reach the enclave despite drone and naval interceptions. One participant, French actress Adèle Haenel, left the voyage due to engine trouble, underscoring the risks faced by volunteers at sea.
Diplomacy, hostages and regional tensions
At the United Nations, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned that Israels actions could destabilize the Middle East and accused Western powers of blocking diplomacy by pressing new sanctions on Iran. In Israel, thousands gathered in Tel Aviv to demand an agreement to free all hostages, underscoring political fault lines as Prime Minister Netanyahu relies on far-right allies who oppose concessions to Hamas. Of the 251 people abducted on October 7, 47 remain held in Gaza; 25 are deemed dead by the Israeli army.
In related moves, the State Department announced that Colombia president Gustavo Petro would have his visa revoked following participation in a pro-Palestinian protest in New York. The episode reflects the broader international debate over Gaza and the limits of political support for different sides of the conflict.
West Bank operations and casualties
In the West Bank, Israeli forces destroyed the two-storey home of a Palestinian man accused of an attack in Jerusalem East, an operation that damaged several nearby residences. The broader toll in the West Bank remains heavy since Oct 7, with hundreds of Palestinians killed amid raids, and several Israelis killed in Palestinian attacks or during military actions.
Outlook for civilians
As the fighting continues, civilians in Gaza and the West Bank face continued danger and pressing humanitarian needs. The international community faces a critical test to facilitate safe aid deliveries, pressure for de-escalation, and protection of civilians under international law.
