Editor's Pick: 2 million trapped, airstrikes persist in Gaza

Israel continued its airstrikes on Gaza on Thursday, also hitting areas in the south of the Gaza Strip earlier earmarked by it as “safe zones.” More than two million Palestinians remain trapped in the area; they now fear that nowhere is safe. Israel had earlier asked Palestinians to evacuate the north and head to these “safe zones” in the south. But Israeli airstrikes continued overnight. Palestinian militants, too, continued firing rockets into Israel. A residential building in the southern city of Khan Younis was hit, with Nasser Hospital reportedly receiving at least 12 dead and 40 wounded. About half of Gaza’s population, almost one million Palestinians, fled their homes after Israel’s evacuation order, seeking refuge in UN-run schools-turned-shelters or homes of relatives. On Wednesday, Israel agreed to let Egypt deliver some humanitarian aid to Gaza, the first let-up in a 11-day siege. There were reportedly only enough resources left for one meal a day and dirty water for drinking. According to Gaza’s Hamas-led government, bakeries in the territory were hit in the strikes as well, further increasing hardships in procuring food. The aid plan included bringing water, food and other supplies into Gaza. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, has however, called the 20 trucks of aid “a drop in the ocean” for 2 million people. The announcement followed on the heels of massive outrage sparked by a Tuesday night explosion at Gaza City’s al-Ahli Hospital, which killed hundreds of Palestinians, per health authorities in Hamas-run Gaza. Both sides traded claims as to who was responsible for the blast- while Hamas pinned the blame on Israel, Israel claimed it was a rocket misfire by Palestinian militants. Israel’s military claims some victories- the killing of a top Palestinian militant in Rafah, near the Israel-Egypt border, and destruction of targets in Gaza like militant tunnel shafts, intelligence infrastructure and command centres. Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak arrived in Israel on Thursday and expressed solidarity for the people of Israel, saying that they had “suffered an unspeakable, horrific act of terrorism.” “…I want you to know that the United Kingdom and I stand with you,” he said. The visit was also aimed at preventing escalation of the conflict. The current clash was sparked by an October 7 Sabbath attack by Hamas which killed around 1400 people. An editorial in The Hindu today highlighted that the retaliatory air strikes by Israel, in Gaza, which continue with “disproportionate ferocity” have killed around 3,785 Palestinians. The nation is also gathering troops and tanks for a ground invasion. The editorial warned that Israel’s bombing of a “tiny, blockaded enclave is pushing its 2.3 million people into an unimaginable struggle of life and death.” The Hindu’s Editorial Endless woes: On the Israel-Hamas conflict and Palestine Nithari fiasco: On the case being a scathing indictment of investigators The Hindu’s Daily News Quiz Which 1973 Arab-Israeli war is the current Israel-Hamas conflict being compared to? Gulf War Six-Day War Yom Kippur War War of Attrition To know the answer and to play the full quiz, click here. [logo] Editor's Pick 20 October 2023 [The Hindu logo] In the Editor's Pick newsletter, The Hindu explains why a story was important enough to be carried on the front page of today's edition of our newspaper. [[Arrow]Open in browser]( [[Mail icon]More newsletters]( 2 million trapped, airstrikes persist in Gaza [Israel continued its airstrikes on Gaza]( on Thursday, also hitting areas in the south of the Gaza Strip earlier earmarked by it as “safe zones.” More than two million Palestinians remain trapped in the area; they now fear that nowhere is safe. Israel had earlier asked Palestinians to evacuate the north and head to these “safe zones” in the south. But Israeli airstrikes continued overnight. Palestinian militants, too, continued firing rockets into Israel. A residential building in the southern city of Khan Younis was hit, with Nasser Hospital reportedly receiving at least 12 dead and 40 wounded. About half of Gaza’s population, almost one million Palestinians, fled their homes after Israel’s evacuation order, seeking refuge in UN-run schools-turned-shelters or homes of relatives. On Wednesday, [Israel agreed to let Egypt deliver some humanitarian aid to Gaza]( the first let-up in [a 11-day siege]( There were reportedly only enough resources left for one meal a day and dirty water for drinking. According to Gaza’s Hamas-led government, bakeries in the territory were hit in the strikes as well, further increasing hardships in procuring food. The aid plan included bringing water, food and other supplies into Gaza. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, has however, called the 20 trucks of aid “a drop in the ocean” for 2 million people. The announcement followed on the heels of massive outrage sparked by a Tuesday night explosion at Gaza City’s al-Ahli Hospital, which killed hundreds of Palestinians, per health authorities in Hamas-run Gaza. [Both sides traded claims as to who was responsible for the blast]( while Hamas pinned the blame on Israel, Israel claimed it was a rocket misfire by Palestinian militants. Israel’s military claims some victories- the killing of a top Palestinian militant in Rafah, near the Israel-Egypt border, and destruction of targets in Gaza like militant tunnel shafts, intelligence infrastructure and command centres. Meanwhile, British Prime Minister [Rishi Sunak arrived in Israel on Thursday and expressed solidarityÂ]( the people of Israel, saying that they had “suffered an unspeakable, horrific act of terrorism.” “…I want you to know that the United Kingdom and I stand with you,” he said. The visit was also aimed at preventing escalation of the conflict. The current clash was sparked by an October 7 Sabbath attack by Hamas which killed around 1400 people.  [An editorial in The Hindu todayÂ]( that the retaliatory air strikes by Israel, in Gaza, which continue with “disproportionate ferocity” have killed around 3,785 Palestinians. The nation is also gathering troops and tanks for a ground invasion. The editorial warned that [Israel’s bombingÂ]( a “tiny, blockaded enclave is pushing its 2.3 million people into an unimaginable struggle of life and death.” The Hindu’s Editorial [Arrow][Endless woes: On the Israel-Hamas conflict and Palestine]( [Arrow][Nithari fiasco: On the case being a scathing indictment of investigators]( The Hindu’s Daily News Quiz Which 1973 Arab-Israeli war is the current Israel-Hamas conflict being compared to? - Gulf War - Six-Day War - Yom Kippur War - War of Attrition To know the answer and to play the full quiz, [click here](. 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