Renewed Israeli attacks on Gaza kill at least 830 people: health authorities

At least 830 people had been killed and 1,787 others wounded in the Gaza Strip since the Israeli military resumed intense airstrikes across the enclave on March 18, the Gaza-based health authorities said in a statement on Wednesday.

The resumed airstrikes on Gaza ended a two-month truce between Israel and Hamas.

Over the past 24 hours, 39 bodies and 124 wounded were taken to medical facilities across Gaza, bringing the total Palestinian death toll to 50,183, with 113,828 injured since the latest round of Israel-Hamas fighting erupted in early October 2023, the statement said, adding that there were still dead and injured people trapped in the rubbles.

Hamas spokesperson Abdul Latif al-Qanou had been killed in an Israeli airstrike on northern Gaza, according to a local media report on Thursday.

In a video statement addressing Gaza residents on Wednesday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) would soon "operate forcefully in additional areas of Gaza, and you will be required to evacuate from combat zones for your safety."

Operational plans to expand Israel's air and ground assaults on Gaza "are already prepared and approved," he said, adding that "the removal of Hamas from Gaza and the immediate release of all Israeli hostages" are "the only way to end the war."

Also on Wednesday, the Israeli military said that its Air Force struck "over 430" locations in Gaza since the resumption of its deadly air and ground campaign in the enclave.

In Syria, Israel struck 18 locations over the past week, including air raids on Tuesday and last Thursday, in which warplanes targeted "the remaining strategic military capabilities at the Tadmur and T-4 bases," the military said, referring to the T-4 base operated by the Syrian Air Force in Homs province.

In Lebanon, Israel struck "more than 40 Hezbollah terrorist targets" on Saturday, calling the attack a "response" to rocket fire from Lebanon toward the Galilee, a region located in northern Israel and southern Lebanon.

Renewed Israeli attacks on Gaza kill at least 830 people: health authorities

Renewed Israeli attacks on Gaza kill at least 830 people: health authorities

Renewed Israeli attacks on Gaza kill at least 830 people: health authorities

Renewed Israeli attacks on Gaza kill at least 830 people: health authorities

Residents of earthquake-damaged areas of Myanmar are in urgent need of safe drinking water, health care, and temporary shelter after Friday's devastating quake, according to Arnaud de Baecque the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) delegation in Myanmar.

The quake hit the center of Myanmar, with an epicenter close to Mandalay, the country's second-largest city.

Despite international rescue and relief efforts, residents are living in harsh conditions and facing multiple challenges, de Baecque said.

"People are sleeping in the street, people are trying to access medical care, but the buildings are damaged as well. The hospital and primary health-care center cannot be used for now. We have sent already some reinforcement from Yangon together with the National Society of the Myanmar Red Cross to support the initial efforts. And we know also that we've seen the Chinese response, including the search and rescue teams that are still active in the first few days. We hope to find more survivors. And also the support given by the Chinese Red Cross society that is integrated into the general effort," said de Baecque.

The most urgent needs of the affected residents are clean water, health care, especially for the elderly, and safe shelter, according to the ICRC official, with scorching temperatures adding to the challenges.

"Access to safe drinking water is a priority. As the electricity is down, the water pumping system is not working, so the treatment of the water is not happening, temperatures are very high. We're reaching the hot season up to 40 degrees Celsius. Support for old people injured during the earthquake and their health in general would be the second one. And the third is support for livelihood and people who cannot access their homes and their kitchens just to keep having food and a way of sleeping in a safe manner, even if it's outside in the street," said de Baecque.

The death toll from the 7.9-magnitude earthquake has risen to 2,719, with 4,521 people injured and more than 440 listed as missing, according to an announcement on Tuesday from Myanmar's leader Min Aung Hlaing.

Myanmar residents lack clean water, health care, shelter after quake: Red Cross official