Israel has intensified its military operations in Gaza, launching a series of airstrikes that have claimed the lives of at least 107 Palestinians and left nearly 250 others injured, according to health officials in the region. This escalation comes despite increasing international criticism and concern regarding the humanitarian situation in the enclave.
Thick clouds of smoke billowed from the eastern parts of Gaza City, as bombardments raged on. Reports indicate that a hospital in northern Gaza was heavily targeted during these strikes. Footage surfacing on social media depicts scenes of devastation at the Al-Awda hospital, where Israeli tanks and drones reportedly caused significant damage and ignited fires within the facility. A staff member at the hospital documented the destruction, showing walls reduced to rubble and smoke rising ominously.
Israeli military’s response
The Israeli military stated that their operations were conducted “adjacent” to Al-Awda Hospital, asserting that they allowed emergency personnel to respond to a fire at the site. They have, however, denied responsibility for the attack, claiming that “the circumstances of the fire are still under review.” Furthermore, Raafat Ali al-Majdalawi, the director of the Al-Awda Health and Community Association, reported that the hospital’s water tanks were targeted, and outpatient clinics were set ablaze.
With Al-Awda hospital being one of the last two operational hospitals in northern Gaza, the extent of casualties resulting from the strikes remains unclear.
Escalation of hostilities in Lebanon
In addition to the violence in Gaza, Israeli forces have also carried out airstrikes on various locations in southern Lebanon, marking an escalation that has not been seen since the ceasefire that concluded the last Israel-Hezbollah conflict in November. The strikes, deemed “the most violent in some areas” by Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency, occurred far from the border, with residents in northern Israel reporting loud explosions.
The Israeli army had issued warnings prior to one strike that resulted in the destruction of a building in the town of Toul, claiming it was a facility linked to Hezbollah. Videos from the aftermath revealed a massive cloud of smoke rising from an area densely populated with multi-story buildings, although no immediate casualties were reported.
Israel has conducted daily strikes in Lebanon since the ceasefire, which Lebanon asserts violates the agreement. Israeli officials contend that these operations are necessary to prevent Hezbollah from re-arming.
In a separate development, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has indicated that while he is open to temporary truces for the release of hostages, the offensive in Gaza will persist until all military objectives are met. He stated that Hamas must disarm and relinquish control of Gaza, or else military operations will resume.
Despite claims from the Israeli military’s aid division, COGAT, that there are no food shortages in Gaza, international humanitarian organizations have countered this assertion. The UN reported that approximately 90 aid trucks have recently arrived in Gaza, a fraction of the needed supplies for the 2.1 million residents. A spokesperson for the UN highlighted the insufficiency of these shipments, which are merely “a drop in the ocean” compared to the dire needs of the population.
Netanyahu’s government has made a concerted effort to regulate the flow of aid to Gaza, aiming to sustain support from the US and other allies amid rising international scrutiny of their military actions. The tension remains palpable, with the humanitarian crisis deepening as the conflict continues to unfold.
“The war began when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel on 7 October 2023, killing around 1,200 people, most of them civilians,” the report details, emphasizing the ongoing volatility in the region.
As of now, casualties from the conflict have tragically surpassed 53,762 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, according to figures released by the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry. This statistic underscores the profound humanitarian crisis resulting from the ongoing military actions.