Gaza City is engulfed in escalating violence as Israeli airstrikes intensify, targeting densely populated neighborhoods such as Zeitoun and Sabra, according to reports from the Hamas-run civil defense agency. With ongoing bombardments over three days, locals struggle to retrieve the deceased and aid the injured due to the persistent attacks.
In response to the humanitarian crisis, a coalition of nations, including the UK, Australia, and Canada, has condemned the situation, describing a "famine unfolding" and urging immediate measures to facilitate the delivery of essential aid. The joint statement implies that there is a dire need for "immediate, permanent, and concrete steps" to allow humanitarian assistance into Gaza. However, Israel refutes claims of starvation, attributing challenges in aid delivery to UN agencies that allegedly fail to collect supplies from the borders.
The World Health Organisation has also highlighted the pressing need for medical supplies, appealing to Israel for assistance in addressing the "catastrophic" health crisis. Meanwhile, Israel's war cabinet has voted to occupy Gaza City, leading to international outcries during an emergency session of the UN Security Council. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) proclaimed the start of a new phase of combat, although a specific timetable for the occupation was not disclosed.
Amid these developments, Gaza's residents report relentless aerial bombardments with some renewing calls for accountability from the global community. Majed al-Hosary, a resident of Zeitoun, described the explosive intensity: "With every strike, the ground shakes. There are martyrs under the rubble that no one can reach because the shelling hasn't stopped." The Hamas-run health ministry reported rising casualties, with 100 deaths within just 24 hours.
Experts warn of escalating famine in the region due to the ongoing conflict, and a group of former leaders, dubbed "The Elders," has recently condemned the situation as an "unfolding genocide." They stress the need for serious attention to the humanitarian plight of Palestinians.
Israel maintains that it specifically targets terrorist elements, rejecting claims that it impacts civilians. Controversially, an Israeli military strike recently killed five Al Jazeera journalists, eliciting global backlash. While Hamas's surprise attack earlier this month has led to significant Israeli casualties, the toll on Palestinian civilians continues to mount, raising urgent questions about accountability and humanitarian responsibility in the region.
