With more killings, UN says Israel creating ‘apocalyptic’ condition in Gaza
text_fieldsAs Israel continues its aggressions in Gaza, disregarding the global call for a ceasefire, dozens of Palestinians lost their lives in a recent Israeli strike on homes sheltering displaced people in the central Gaza town of Deir al-Balah.
The head of the Shuhada Al-Aqsa hospital in Deir al-Balah, Dr Eyad Al-Jabri, reported receiving 45 martyrs from the Israeli bombing, with at least 34 bodies, including six children, confirmed by an Associated Press reporter at the scene.
The grim toll highlights the devastating impact on civilians caught in the crossfire.
Meanwhile, clashes between Palestinians and the Israeli military in the West Bank resulted in two reported deaths, including two teenagers killed by Israeli gunfire in the city of Tubas. Conflicting reports suggest additional casualties in clashes with the military in the West Bank, emphasizing the widespread unrest in the region.
The Nuseirat refugee camp also faced an Israeli attack, resulting in at least six people killed and others wounded.
The situation remains fluid, with ongoing reports of casualties in various locations, including the southern city of Khan Younis and neighbourhoods in Gaza City.
The UN's top aid official, Martin Griffiths, declares that the Israeli military campaign in southern Gaza is as devastating as in the north, creating "apocalyptic" conditions and eliminating the possibility of meaningful humanitarian operations.
Griffiths, speaking on behalf of the international aid community, emphasizes the dire situation, stating that the ongoing offensive hinders aid workers from effectively assisting Gaza's 2.3 million people.
As the Israeli military intensifies its actions, including storming southern Gaza's main city, hospitals are overwhelmed, grappling with numerous dead and wounded Palestinians. The situation underscores the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire to address the escalating humanitarian crisis.
Amid the escalating crisis, Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah is facing a critical shortage of essential supplies, according to Doctors Without Borders. With 700 patients admitted and new arrivals continually streaming in, the hospital is struggling to meet the growing demand for medical care.
In Gaza, Palestinian fighters are employing more sophisticated tactics against Israeli forces, including the use of improvised explosive devices and anti-personnel mines. Israeli forces have entered urban areas in Khan Younis and Jabalia, heightening the intensity of the conflict.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reports that Hezbollah, based in southern Lebanon, claimed responsibility for 15 attacks on Israeli territory.
A tense meeting in Israel's war cabinet revealed harrowing accounts from former Israeli captives who expressed fears of being killed by their own country's attacks on Hamas tunnels.
One captive recounted the daily challenges faced in captivity, being in tunnels and constantly terrified that Israeli actions would lead to their demise. Another captive voiced concerns about reported plans to flood the tunnels with seawater.