• Israel claims to have killed Abu Obeida, a senior Hamas spokesman, in recent airstrikes.
• Casualties have continued to rise, with over 63,000 Palestinians reportedly killed since the conflict's escalation.
• The Israeli military is intensifying its offensive in densely populated areas of Gaza City.
• Despite Israel's calls for evacuation, many civilians remain trapped and exhausted from repeated displacements.
• The international community expresses increasing concern about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the military had targeted Abu Obeida, the spokesman for Hamas's armed wing, known for his influential appearances clad in military fatigues and a red keffiyeh. Netanyahu stated, "I hope he is no longer with us," amid ongoing military operations focused on dismantling Hamas leadership in Gaza, where over 63,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have reportedly died since the conflict escalated on October 7, 2023, according to numerous reports from Indiatimes, HuffPost, and CBS News.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed Obeida’s death in a post on X, calling it a significant achievement in Israel's campaign against Hamas. This development comes as the Israeli military ramped up efforts in Gaza City, where it has declared the area a combat zone. Prior to his killing, Obeida had issued statements urging that efforts would be made to protect hostages held by Hamas amidst ongoing airstrikes, according to multiple sources including Middle East Eye and BBC.

Since the beginning of this latest military operation, which Israel initiated in response to the October attacks, at least 43 Palestinians have reportedly died following strikes, with significant casualties noted among civilians, particularly in Gaza City. Hospitals are struggling to cope with the influx of casualties, and there are reports of fatalities among civilians attempting to access aid, as well as ongoing abuses in the region, as highlighted by reports from Le Monde and South China Morning Post.

Throughout this conflict, humanitarian conditions in Gaza have deteriorated drastically, with the UN declaring famine conditions and a humanitarian crisis as tens of thousands of Palestinians remain displaced. "Where are the resistance fighters that (Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu claims he is bombing? Does he consider stones resistance fighters?" questioned a grieving relative at a local hospital where numerous civilians were brought after the latest strikes, reflecting the fears and desperation among Gaza's residents, as outlined in reports from Los Angeles Times and HuffPost.