GAZA: At least 60 Palestinians were killed by Israeli strikes across Gaza in the past 24-hour period, as Israel let in minimal aid to the strip.
According to officials at Nasser, Al-Aqsa, and Al-Ahli hospitals, the fatalities included 10 people in the southern city of Khan Younis, four in the central town of Deir Al-Balah, and nine in northern Jabalia refugee camp.
Israel is facing growing international condemnation over its latest military offensive and increasing pressure to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. The territory has been under an Israeli blockade for nearly three months, according to the United Nations. Experts have warned that a large portion of Gaza’s 2 million residents are at severe risk of famine.
Even the United States, a staunch ally, has expressed concerns over the hunger crisis.
Hamas slams Israeli attack
Palestinian group Hamas, in a statement on Telegram termed the attack on the warehouse at al-Awda Hospital in Jabalia as an attempt to target Gaza’s health sector and destroy what remains of it.
“[Israel] continues its horrific violation of international laws and humanitarian norms by directly targeting hospitals and inhabited homes, relying on American political and military cover and a shameful state of international impotence.”
The statement called on the UN and the remainder of the international community to take “immediate action… to ensure an end to the horrific massacre in the Gaza Strip”.
Gaza death toll surges to 53,822
According to the Gaza health ministry, since October 7, 2023, Israeli forces have killed at least 53,822 Palestinians and wounded 122,382.
It says since March 18, when Israel broke the ceasefire, at least 3,673 people have been killed and 10,341 injured.
Gaza’s needs are immense: Red Cross
Tommaso Della Longa of the Red Cross says the situation is “simply a nightmare” for people in Gaza.
“The news of aid entering the Strip is good news, but it is less than a drop in the ocean,” he said.
Longa said even if some aid trucks recently entered the enclave, it did not mean aid was delivered to people.
“Until now, people did not get anything, and we need to have a humanitarian operation that scales [with people’s needs].
“If before the conflict started, we needed 500 to 600 trucks a day in Gaza that means that number is now doubled, as the needs are immense.”
94 percent of hospitals in Gaza damaged, destroyed
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) at least 94 percent of all hospitals in Gaza are damaged or destroyed.
It said only 19 of 36 hospitals remain functional, “although only partially”. Four major hospitals have closed in the last week “due to attacks, evacuation orders, and increasing hostilities”.
It warned that few remaining hospitals in the south are “overwhelmed [and] at imminent risk of shutting down”.
