Israel has questioned why the figures,provided by the Hamas-run Health Ministry,for the deaths of women and children has halved.
With impossible war aims,neither side credibly can claim victory. So the conflict grinds on.
Even as Israel attempts to kill the man it considers the architect of the October 7 attack,it has been forced to negotiate with him to free the remaining hostages.
Israel has ordered new evacuations in Gaza’s southern city of Rafah in defiance of growing pressure from close ally the United States and others.
The UN has warned for weeks that an Israeli assault on Rafah would cripple humanitarian operations and cause a disastrous surge in civilian casualties.
The findings risk further souring ties with Israel at a time when the allies are increasingly at odds over Israel’s plans to strike Rafah.
The Israeli PM’s comments indicate he might proceed with an invasion of the packed city of Rafah against the wishes of closest ally US to “achieve victory”.
The US decision to pause the delivery of bombs represents a significant turning point in its relationship with Israel. But it may not necessarily be a breaking point.
Residents said tanks,which had moved in to take control of the crossing,had not entered built-up areas of the city and gun battles were still outside the city limits.
More than half a million children are sheltering in Rafah. Families I spoke to there as an Australian aid worker told me they were terrified,wondering how they will protect their kids.
Joe Biden has been trying to head off a full-scale assault by the Israelis against Rafah,where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have sought refuge from combat elsewhere in Gaza.