(22 Jul 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Southern Israel looking over Deir al-Balah – 22 July 2025
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1. Smoke rising from ongoing Israeli operations
STORYLINE:
Smoke was seen rising over the Deir-al-Balah skyline on Tuesday morning as Israel continued its offensive in the Gaza Strip.
Gaza’s population of more than 2 million Palestinians is in a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, now relying largely on the limited aid allowed into the territory.
Israel’s offensive has displaced some 90% of the population, with many forced to flee multiple times.
Israel’s 21 months of war with Hamas have pushed Gaza to the brink of famine, sparked worldwide protests and led to an International Criminal Court arrest warrant against Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Deir al-Balah is the only Gaza city that has not seen major ground operations or suffered widespread devastation in 21 months of war, leading to speculation that the Hamas militant group holds large numbers of hostages there.
The main group representing hostages’ families said it was “shocked and alarmed” by the incursion and demanded answers from Israeli leaders.
Israel says the seizure of territory in Gaza is aimed at pressuring Hamas to release hostages, but it is a major point of contention in ongoing ceasefire talks.
Hamas triggered the war when militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 others hostage.
Fifty hostages remain in Gaza, but fewer than half are thought to be alive.
Israel’s military offensive has killed more than 59,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Its count doesn’t distinguish between militants and civilians, but the ministry says more than half of the dead are women and children.
The ministry is part of the Hamas government, but the U.N. and other international organizations see it as the most reliable source of data on casualties.
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