Israeli officials maintain their military is focused on eliminating Hamas, the Gaza-based militant group that carried out a deadly attack in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. About 50 hostages taken by Hamas at the time remain in captivity, roughly half of whom Israel believes are dead.

Israel continues to deny what aid agencies and governments are saying is the man-made starvation it is forcing on Gaza

At least 42 starving people seeking aid gunned down today alone near Israeli-backed aid sites in the Gaza Strip.