### Ongoing Conflict in Gaza and West Bank Imposes Heavy Toll on Palestinian Civilians

A year following a major assault by Hamas, Israel's military actions in Gaza persist, and operations in the occupied West Bank have seen a marked increase. Palestinian civilians continue to endure unrelenting hardships amid this prolonged conflict, suffering severe and deadly consequences.

The death toll from Israel’s campaign in Gaza nears 42,000, according to Gaza’s health authorities, with 39 more fatalities just recorded on Monday. This marks a grave chapter in the lives of many, as Hamas, branded a terrorist organization by countries including the United States, finds its influence and control over Gaza waning. This erosion of authority has left a vacuum that humanitarian aid organizations struggle to fill.

Cease-fire negotiations involving Hamas and Israel, facilitated by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt, remain stalled, prolonging the plight of Gaza's civilians. For many, displacement that began last October has no foreseeable resolution. A father of seven, forced to evacuate Gaza's northern region yet again on Monday, has faced displacement four times in the past year.

The initial Hamas-led assault one year ago led to over 1,200 deaths and approximately 250 kidnappings from southern Israel, according to Israeli reports. Musleh, a teacher, empathizes with the Israeli hostages but holds Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accountable for the ongoing suffering. In an interview with NPR, Musleh expressed that peace is unachievable under Netanyahu's leadership and urged Israeli citizens to demand change for the possibility of normal relations.

In the West Bank, intensifying violence between Palestinian militants and Israeli forces, in addition to settler aggression, has exacerbated the situation. Massive Israeli airstrikes, including significant raids into cities like Jenin, have targeted Palestinian areas, leaving dozens dead. In Ramallah, the largest city in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, residents gathered in protest on Monday, waving Palestinian flags and condemning the occupation.

Marking the anniversary of the Gaza conflict's start, Basma Abu Sway emphasized the importance of October 7 in Palestinian history and expressed her hope that the sacrifices made by Palestinians contribute to lasting peace. "All this blood, all this death is bringing peace to Palestine," she declared. "We deserve as Palestinian people to live in complete liberation."

Over 730 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since the conflict's onset, correlated with data from the United Nations and Palestinian health authorities. Recent actions saw the arrest of 45 individuals by Israeli military forces across the West Bank from Sunday night into Monday morning, announced by the Palestinian advocacy group, Palestinian Prisoners' Club.

In Ramallah's Manara Square, Rima Nazzal voiced her fears about an expanding Israeli occupation due to the military's post-October 7 actions. "The world says Israel has a right to defend itself," she lamented. "As if it says Israel has a right to defend its occupation."

Correspondents Anas Baba in the Gaza Strip and Willem Marx in London contributed to this report.