Palestinian news agency WAFA said most of the victims were women and children. Hours before Hamas’ announcement, WAFA reported that the death toll would be 51.
According to Hamas, at least 9,488 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli soldiers since the conflict began on October 7. The extremist group launched a surprise attack on southern Israel, killing 1,400 people and taking another 240 hostage.
Biden says yes to humanitarian pause
Fighting broke out between Israeli soldiers and Hamas fighters in the Gaza Strip on Saturday. The group announced the suspension of evacuations of foreigners and binational nationals to Egypt because of Israel’s refusal to allow injured Palestinians to leave, at the risk that Hamas members could be among them.
US President Joe Biden reported progress in securing a humanitarian pause in this war. When asked if there had been any progress on the matter, Biden replied “yes” and a thumbs up as he left a church this Saturday (4).
American diplomacy chief Antony Blinken met with his counterparts from Arab countries in Amman after a visit to Israel and reiterated his call for “humanitarian pauses.”