Gaza (Web Desk): The situation in Gaza has reached a catastrophic level, with reports from health officials detailing the grim reality of Israeli airstrikes that have killed 76 Palestinians and wounded 158 in just the past 24 hours.
Since the violence escalated last year, the total number of fatalities in Gaza has now surpassed 43,900, with nearly 104,000 people injured.
The overwhelming majority of those killed are civilians, many of whom are women and children, as highlighted by the Palestinian Authority's foreign ministry, which is urgently calling for global intervention to halt the "atrocities" unfolding in the region.
Josep Borrell, the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, expressed his frustration over the inability of the international community to stop the relentless violence, admitting that he had "exhausted words" in his attempts to address the crisis.
In his final days in office, Borrell stressed the horrifying reality that over 70% of those killed are women and children, with the majority of the young victims being under the age of 9.
Meanwhile, Israel's military confirmed the assassination of Mohammad Afif, a prominent Hezbollah media manager, in a strike in the Beirut area.
This further underscores the widening scope of the conflict, as Israeli airstrikes continue to target not only Gaza but also Lebanon, with multiple strikes hitting the heart of Beirut.
The Lebanese Ministry of Health reported 29 more deaths and 122 injuries in just one day, bringing the total number of casualties in Lebanon since October 2023 to over 3,400 dead and more than 14,000 injured.
In response to the escalating violence, a group of 300 cultural professionals have appealed to UNESCO to protect Lebanon’s cultural heritage, which is increasingly at risk of being destroyed in the crossfire.
These professionals, including archaeologists and scholars, are urging the international community to act swiftly to preserve Lebanon’s irreplaceable historical and cultural landmarks, which are under threat from the ongoing conflict.
As the death toll continues to rise and more civilians are caught in the brutal cycle of violence, the urgency for international action grows.
The destruction of lives and cultural heritage alike speaks to the severity of the crisis and the failure of diplomatic efforts to bring an end to the bloodshed.