Israel-Hamas War Day 18 Live | Israel steps up attack; death toll rapidly rising

Authorities in Gaza reported that since the start of the conflict between the Palestinian militant group Hamas and Israel on October 7, over 5,000 people have been killed, and more than 15,000 have been injured.

Shri Thanedar, an Indian-American Congressman, said that Hamas should be eliminated and its military capabilities dismantled, referring to the group as "barbaric terrorists."

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) urged for unrestricted humanitarian aid to reach Gaza, which is facing a dire crisis after enduring two weeks of intense Israeli attacks. Tamara Alrifai, spokesperson for UNRWA, insisted on the urgent need for a continuous flow of both humanitarian and medical assistance into Gaza. She highlighted that the aid delivered thus far is insufficient in light of the overwhelming needs of the people affected.

Amid its ongoing conflict with Hamas, Israel Defence Forces (IDF) on Tuesday said it carried out strikes at more than 400 terrorist targets in the past 24 hours. The IDF asserted that it will continue operating to ensure the safety of innocent civilians.

Taking to X, the IDF stated, "In a wide-scale operation to dismantle Hamas' terrorist capabilities, the IDF struck over 400 terrorist targets in the past 24hrs: Hamas gunmen setting up to fire rockets toward Israel. A Hamas operational tunnel shaft allowing terrorists to infiltrate Israel through the sea. Hamas command centers used by operatives and staging armaments in Mosques. The IDF will continue operating in order to ensure the safety of innocent civilians."

Meanwhile, the IDF Chief of Staff, Lt General Herzi Halevi said that Israel wants to bring Hamas to a state of "full dismantling." He asserted that Israel is well prepared for the ground operations in the south.

Lt General Halevi, "We want to bring Hamas to a state of full dismantling - its leaders, its military branch and its working mechanisms. That is why we are striking and eliminating high ranking commanders and members, destroying infrastructure and acting with great determination. The path is a path of unrelenting attacks damaging Hamas everywhere and in every way. We are well prepared for the ground preparations in the south. The Southern Command has quality operational plans."

Meanwhile, Israel's Air Force said that it targeted infrastructures of the Hezbollah, including a military compound and an observation post used by the organization. — ANI

There are reports suggesting that Hamas might release an additional 50 hostages. Allegedly, Red Cross representatives are en route to Gaza to facilitate the release of hostages with dual nationalities.

Hamas released two Israeli women hostages on Monday, citing "compelling humanitarian" reasons after mediation by Qatar and Egypt. The women were taken to the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt. This comes shortly after the liberation of two American women, Judith Tai Raanan and her daughter Natalie Shoshana Raanan. 

A United Nations special investigator said while Hamas' attacks on Israel at a minimum constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity, Israel in its response is required to protect civilians and is banned from targeting schools, hospitals and people fleeing harm.

Fionnuala Ní Aoláin, the special rapporteur on protecting human rights while countering terrorism, told a UN news conference on Monday that when these rules of international humanitarian law are breached, “We are also in the territory of war crimes.” She stressed that under the Geneva Conventions governing the conduct of war, it isn’t only Israel and Hamas that must respect humanitarian law. Those “with influence” over the parties also have an obligation to ensure the rules of war are respected — and to remind the parties to comply.

Italy's foreign minister Antonio Tajani said the last of three Italian-Israeli citizens who had been missing in the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel is also dead.

“Unfortunately, also Nir Forti is deceased”, the minister tweeted on Monday. Forti had been attending the music festival that Hamas attacked. “To die at 29, barbarously killed by terrorists, is deeply unjust,” Tajani wrote on Twitter. Only hours earlier Tajani had announced the death of another Italian-Israeli woman, whose husband’s death had been confirmed last week.