UPDATE: Israel is set to halt humanitarian aid to northern Gaza as it intensifies its military offensive against Hamas. This decision follows the declaration of Gaza City as a combat zone, raising urgent concerns over the humanitarian crisis affecting both Palestinians and hostages remaining in the area after nearly 23 months of conflict.
An anonymous official revealed that Israel plans to stop airdrops over Gaza City in the coming days while also reducing the number of aid trucks entering the northern territory. This shift comes as Israel prepares to evacuate hundreds of thousands of people southward. Just one day ago, Israel announced the end of daytime pauses in fighting aimed at facilitating aid delivery, citing Gaza City as a stronghold for Hamas due to its extensive tunnel network.
The United Nations has reported that current aid measures are drastically inadequate, falling far short of the 600 trucks needed daily to meet the dire needs of Gaza’s population, which exceeds two million people. Recent video footage captured multiple explosions across Gaza overnight, highlighting the escalating violence.
Reports indicate that civilians are fleeing Gaza City, taking what little they can carry as they face food shortages and destruction of infrastructure. The International Committee of the Red Cross has issued warnings against forced evacuations, stating that such actions could lead to a “massive population movement” that Gaza cannot accommodate due to extreme shortages of food, water, and medical care.
In a tragic turn of events, Israeli gunfire killed four people seeking aid in central Gaza, according to officials at Al-Awda Hospital. In the last 24 hours alone, 15 people lost their lives while trying to access humanitarian assistance, with an additional 10 deaths attributed to starvation, including three children. The Gaza Health Ministry reports that at least 63,371 Palestinians have died since the conflict began, with around half being women and children.
As of now, 48 hostages remain in Gaza from over 250 individuals taken during Hamas’ attack on October 7, 2023. Israel believes that 20 of these hostages are still alive, causing growing distress among their families, who fear that the ongoing military operations will further jeopardize their safety. Many are preparing to rally again this evening to demand a ceasefire and a resolution that will bring their loved ones home.
The situation in Gaza remains critical as international condemnation of Israel’s military actions mounts. With humanitarian conditions deteriorating rapidly, the world watches closely for developments in this unfolding tragedy.
