“BOMBING FOLLOWED US”
The more than 230 hostages – aged between a few months and above 80 – are believed to be held in a network of underground tunnels where Hamas has hid its military infrastructure from Israeli surveillance and air attacks.
Israel confirmed the death of one of those missing – German-Israeli Shani Louk, 23, who was captured by Hamas when its gunmen stormed a desert music festival.
Fear and desperation have spiralled in Gaza, under weeks of siege that have cut off water, food, fuel and other essentials.
Internet access was severed on Friday but restored Sunday following US pressure, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said.
“We made clear to the government of Israel over the weekend that communications networks needed to be restored,” he said on Monday.
“It is about ensuring that vital information flows, humanitarian coordination continues, and families can stay in touch.”
The UN reported Sunday that “thousands of people” had ransacked aid warehouses in Gaza.
Donkey carts were lining up to load water, as safe drinking water has become scarce, in Khan Yunis in southern Gaza.
According to the UN, all 10 hospitals in northern Gaza have received evacuation orders – despite sheltering thousands of patients and about 117,000 displaced people.
“We were displaced from our homes to the hospital,” Gaza City resident Ashraf al-Muzani, 38, said from Al-Quds hospital where he and his family have sheltered for a week.
“The bombing followed us,” he said. “We haven’t been able to sleep and our children are so frightened.”
“HIGHEST” UN DEATH TOLL
UNRWA’s Lazzarini said that 64 of his colleagues had been killed in Gaza since Oct 7, “the highest number of UN aid workers killed in a conflict in such a short time”.
Anti-Israel anger has flared across the region and beyond.
In Russia’s Muslim-majority Dagestan, police said they had arrested 60 people after a crowd stormed an airport on Sunday to attack passengers arriving from Tel Aviv.
And Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday accused the United States of responsibility for what he called “deadly chaos” unfolding in the Middle East.
Washington has warned Israel’s enemies – in particular Iran-allied groups – not to become more fully involved after a series of attacks across the region.
Israel’s military has struck targets in Syria and traded cross-border fire with Hezbollah in Lebanon, where caretaker prime minister Najib Mikati told AFP he was “doing my duty to prevent Lebanon from entering the war”.
Violence has also surged in the occupied West Bank, where health officials say about 120 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire and in settler attacks since the Gaza war started.
Source: CNA
