By Desmond Nleya
Today marks exactly 277 days since Israel-Gaza conflict started.
Yesterday, an Israeli air strike killed 29 Palestinians sheltering in tents outside a school in Abassan town, near Khan Younis in southern Gaza, the territory’s Government Media Office reported.
The attack is the fourth Israeli strike to hit a school building being used as a shelter in Gaza in four days and comes after Israel issued new mass evacuation orders for parts of Khan Younis and Gaza City, forcing tens of thousands to flee and causing the closure of three key hospitals.
UN human rights experts say Israel is imposing “targeted starvation” on Gaza’s population, resulting in the deaths of children from malnutrition and dehydration.
Mediated negotiations to reach a ceasefire in Gaza are set to continue on Wednesday in Qatar and on Thursday in Egypt.
At least 38,243 people have been killed and 88,243 wounded in Israel’s war on Gaza since October 7. The death toll in Israel from the Hamas-led attacks is estimated at 1,139, with dozens of people still held captive in Gaza.