In the last 24 hours, Israeli military strikes have led to the deaths of at least 32 people and injured 139 others in Gaza, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The attacks have specifically targeted five displacement camps, raising significant concerns. One of the attacks struck a home in central Khan Younis and another hit a tent sheltering displaced people in al-Mawasi, resulting in at least six casualties. Additionally, a strike on the Shati camp killed ten people, including the sister of Hamas chief Haniyeh. Two more attacks on schools claimed at least 14 lives.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, with over 495,000 Palestinians experiencing severe food shortages. The ongoing conflict has created a high risk of famine, exacerbating the suffering of the population. Since October 7, the death toll in Gaza has risen to at least 37,658, with 86,237 wounded. In Israel, the revised death toll from Hamas-led attacks stands at 1,139, with dozens still held captive in Gaza.
In a disturbing development, Al Jazeera obtained footage from an Israeli army dog’s camera showing an attack on an elderly Palestinian woman in her home in Jabalia, northern Gaza. Meanwhile, the Israeli Supreme Court has ruled that ultra-Orthodox Jewish men must be drafted into military service, a decision welcomed by opposition leader Yair Lapid, who noted that it means “no more exemptions.”
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant expressed to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken that Israel prefers a diplomatic resolution to the conflict with Hezbollah. Amid the escalating violence, Israeli artillery shelling targeted the Saudi neighborhood and Tal as-Sultan areas in Rafah.
The humanitarian crisis is further highlighted by the Palestine Red Crescent’s efforts to distribute hygiene packs in northern Gaza to reduce disease spread due to overcrowding in displacement shelters. UN reports reveal that about 495,000 Palestinians face catastrophic food shortages, with many resorting to desperate measures like trading clothes for money and scavenging trash to sell. Mercy Corps has urged the international community to push for a ceasefire, emphasizing that the population cannot endure these hardships any longer. Without dramatic changes in humanitarian aid provision, the death toll is expected to rise as people succumb to months of deprivation.
