Israel’s war in Gaza has now stretched on for nearly two years, and the death toll continues to climb. Local health officials say more than 66,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel launched its invasion in October 2023, while over 168,000 others have been wounded. Many more are feared to be trapped under collapsed buildings.
On Sunday, at least 10 people lost their lives when an airstrike hit the crowded Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. By the end of the day, more than 40 people had been killed across the territory. In Gaza City, Israeli tanks pushed deeper into residential neighborhoods, with witnesses saying families are trapped and calling desperately for help that can’t reach them.
Hamas, meanwhile, claimed it had lost contact with two Israeli captives during heavy strikes. The group called on Israel to pause air raids for a day so they could try to locate them, but there’s been no sign that request will be granted.
The humanitarian crisis is worsening by the hour. Another infant has died of malnutrition in southern Gaza’s Nasser Hospital, a heartbreaking consequence of Israel’s blockade on food and aid.
Internationally, the pressure on Israel is growing. Spain announced it was joining a bloc of 34 countries-dubbed “The Hague Group”-aiming to impose new sanctions and hold Israel accountable for its actions in Gaza. At the same time, San Marino officially recognized Palestine as a state, calling the move a stand for peace and justice.
In the U.S., President Donald Trump hinted at a breakthrough, telling supporters there was “a real chance for greatness in the Middle East” and promising, “We will get it done.” He offered no concrete details, but days earlier suggested a peace deal could be close.
Adding to the diplomatic stir, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee is set to make a rare trip to Egypt for talks-one of the few times in decades an American envoy in Israel has done so.
Elsewhere, tensions spilled beyond Gaza. In the occupied West Bank, a Palestinian child was injured after being run over by an Israeli military vehicle, and settlers attacked a Bedouin community northeast of Jerusalem, cutting off their only road and electricity supply.
Even sports are feeling the strain. Israel’s cycling team was dropped from an upcoming Italian race after organizers expressed concern about pro-Palestinian protests disrupting the event.
With the war grinding on, the region is being reshaped not just by bombs and blockades, but also by the world’s growing calls for accountability and change.