Israel has intensified its military strikes in Gaza, resulting in at least 70 fatalities, including victims trapped under rubble, according to Palestinian health officials. This escalation occurred shortly after UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher criticized a humanitarian aid distribution plan facilitated by Israel and backed by the U.S., labeling it a “cynical sideshow” and a “fig leaf for further violence.”
Fletcher urged the international community to consider the implications of its actions regarding the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where no aid has entered since early March. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification has warned that approximately 500,000 people, or nearly 25% of Gaza’s population, are at risk of starvation amid the ongoing conflict.
The recent strikes followed a tragic incident on Tuesday where at least 48 individuals, including 22 children, lost their lives in attacks on two hospitals. Eyewitness accounts describe scenes of devastation, including a bus that fell into a crater created by the strikes at the European Hospital in Khan Younis. One woman, Asma Abu Daqqa, lamented the loss of safe spaces as she searched for her children.
British plastic surgeon Tomo Potokar also recounted the chaos inside the hospital, which was severely damaged and already strained from treating numerous patients. The Israeli military claimed that its strikes targeted Hamas infrastructure beneath the hospital, a justification that has been met with skepticism as the UN reports a troubling pattern of attacks on healthcare facilities.
Palestinian health authorities have reported that around 53,000 people have died in Gaza since the onset of the conflict, which was triggered by Hamas’s attacks on October 7, 2023. The recent wave of violence coincided with President Donald Trump’s visit to the Middle East, during which he indicated that more hostages would be released and expressed hope for a better future for Gaza.
The ongoing violence and humanitarian crisis in Gaza continue to draw international concern, with advocates pushing for immediate action to alleviate the suffering of civilians. As discussions about a potential ceasefire and humanitarian relief efforts continue, many voices are emphasizing the dire need for protection of non-combatants and access to essential medical care.