
Israeli air strikes relentlessly pounded the blockaded Palestinian enclave of Gaza on the last day of 2023 in a starkculmination of a year of conflict between the Jewish state and the militant group Hamas.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a stern warning to Hamas and assertedthat the conflict triggered by Hamas' October 7 terror attack on Israel would continue for "many months."
The Israeli Army reportedly engaged in multiple ground battles, air raids, and tank strikes. It alsoclaimed to have identified Hamas tunnels and explosives in locations such as a kindergarten.
The UN disclosed that 85 per cent of Gaza's 2.4 million people have been displaced, and warned of a continued humanitarian crisisas winter takes hold.
AsIsrael-Hamas war continues raging since October 7, 2023, Gaza's landscape has transformed into a wasteland, with casualties reaching a staggering 21,822, mostly women and children, according to the latest figures released by the Hamas-runhealth ministry in Gaza.
Meanwhile, the plight of Israelis held hostage by Hamasremains dire, with at least 129 believed to be still held in Gaza.
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Hospitals in Gaza are overwhelmed or out of service.
Despite international calls for a ceasefire, Israel remains resolute in its pursuit of 'decimating'Hamas.
UN Chief Antonio Guterres condemned the "epic human suffering" and "collective punishment" faced by Palestinian civilians.
As the world watches, the immediate future remains uncertain, with the shadow of continued conflict looming large.
(With inputs from agencies)