GAZA: Israeli forces launched a brutal attack on aid trucks and Palestinians gathered for humanitarian assistance at the Kuwait Roundabout in the besieged Gaza Strip, resulting in the deaths of at least 24 persons and leaving dozens more injured. The incident unfolded amidst escalating violence in the region, with the total death toll in Gaza surging to a staggering 31,923 since October 7, when Israel launched a relentless bombardment campaign in the Palestinian territory.
The targeted strike not only decimated the aid trucks and killed innocent civilians but also inflicted significant damage on the surrounding area, including vital public facilities. This brutal act underscores a disturbing pattern of deliberate and direct attacks on humanitarian aid convoys and gatherings, exacerbating the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, where famine is spreading rapidly, particularly in the northern region of the besieged Palestinian enclave.
Reports emerged of a distribution food point in the Jabalia refugee camp being targeted and destroyed by Israeli forces, depriving residents of critical aid delivery services. Shockingly, this distribution point was reportedly the sole facility available in the northern part of Gaza City, designed to ensure the smooth delivery of aid to the area’s vulnerable population.
Meanwhile, the Gaza health ministry reported that over 31,923 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed, and 74,096 others have been injured since the launch of Israel’s military offensive on October 7. Within the span of 24 hours preceding the latest attack, 104 Palestinians were killed, and 162 were injured, according to the ministry’s statement.
Israeli Forces Hindering Aid Delivery to Gaza
Amidst the escalating crisis, concerns mount over the obstruction of humanitarian aid efforts in Gaza, as less than half of the planned UN aid convoys for the hunger-stricken northern region have been allowed entry this month. Despite repeated appeals from the international community to address the urgent humanitarian needs of over one million people on the brink of starvation, access constraints persist, severely hindering the timely delivery of life-saving assistance.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) highlighted the dire situation, emphasizing that while 11 out of 24 aid missions were facilitated by Israeli authorities in the first two weeks of March, the remaining missions were either denied entry or postponed. The continued obstruction of humanitarian access underscores the urgent need for immediate action to alleviate the suffering of Gaza’s vulnerable population and address the escalating humanitarian crisis in the region.
