Gaza health officials said Monday the number of people killed in Israel’s offensive rose to at least 33,797, while Israel’s military pledged to remain focused on its mission of defeating the Hamas militant group and ensuring the release of all hostages still being held in Gaza.
The Gaza health ministry said the toll included 68 deaths from the past day, and that more than 76,000 people have been wounded since the Israel-Hamas war began in October. The death toll does not differentiate between militants and civilians, but the ministry says about two-thirds of those killed have been women and children.
Israel began its campaign to eliminate Hamas following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people.
The Israeli military said Monday it struck sites in southern Lebanon used by the militant group Hezbollah. Israeli jets also intercepted an aerial drone that approached the country from the east, the military said.
Following the Saturday drone and missile attack by Iran, Israeli military spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said Israel has not lost sight of its “critical mission in Gaza” to rescue the 133 hostages still being held by Hamas. About 100 of the hostages are believed to still be alive.
Negotiators have been working for weeks on a proposed cease-fire deal that would temporarily halt fighting. The deal would include Hamas releasing about 40 of the hostages and Israel letting go of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. There would also be an increase in humanitarian aid reaching civilians in Gaza who are badly in need of help.
Israel’s military also said Sunday it is activating two reserve brigades for operations in Gaza. The move comes ahead of a planned offensive in Rafah that Israeli leaders say is necessary to complete their mission of eliminating Hamas, a U.S.-designated terror group.
The United Nations, United States and others have expressed concerns about the potential for a humanitarian disaster if Israel conducts a mass offensive in Rafah. The Rafah area is host to more than half of Gaza’s population.
Some information for this report was provided by The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
