Gaza City Under Intense Israeli Strikes, Humanitarian crisis Deepens
Israeli forces have intensified airstrikes across Gaza City in recent days, targeting and destroying high-rise buildings alleged to house hamas surveillance equipment. The military has ordered residents to evacuate, framing the offensive as an effort to dismantle Hamas‘s last stronghold, despite the presence of hundreds of thousands of civilians struggling with famine-like conditions.
On Saturday alone, at least 32 Palestinians were killed in a barrage of airstrikes, including 12 children, according to medical staff at Shifa Hospital. A single strike overnight claimed the lives of a family of ten in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood, while Mohammed Ramez Sultan, a football player, and 14 of his family members were also killed.
While the Israeli army has not yet commented on specific strikes, the escalating hostilities are driving a surge in displacement. Aid workers report a significant increase in people leaving Gaza City, though many remain trapped by the cost of relocation and a lack of trust in the safety of choice locations. The Israeli military is urging remaining Palestinians to move south to a designated “humanitarian zone,” claiming over 250,000 have already left the northern Gaza area.
Though, the united Nations estimates the number of evacuees to be around 100,000 between mid-August and mid-September, and warns that mass displacement will worsen the already dire humanitarian situation. Southern Gaza is overcrowded, and the cost of transportation and housing presents a significant barrier for many. Crucially, over 86,000 tents and essential supplies intended for temporary shelters remain stalled awaiting clearance to enter Gaza.
The crisis is compounded by a growing number of deaths from malnutrition. Gaza’s Health Ministry reported seven deaths, including children, due to malnutrition in the past 24 hours, bringing the total since the start of the war to 420, including 145 children.
These intensified strikes come days after Israel targeted Hamas leaders in Qatar,potentially jeopardizing ongoing negotiations for a ceasefire. Meanwhile, families of the 48 hostages still held in Gaza – roughly 20 of whom are believed to be alive – are pleading with Israel to halt the offensive, fearing for their relatives’ lives.
The current conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and abducting 251. Israel’s subsequent offensive has resulted in at least 64,803 Palestinian deaths, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, with women and children accounting for roughly half of those killed. The fighting has caused widespread destruction and displaced approximately 90% of Gaza’s 2 million residents.
(Source: The associated Press)
