Gaza Conflict: Breaking Updates

Three top U.N. agencies have urgently called for increased aid to Gaza, warning of a severe humanitarian crisis with potential widespread famine and disease. This plea comes as the death toll from the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict exceeds 24,000, as reported by authorities in Gaza.

The heads of these agencies emphasized the challenges in delivering aid, such as limited border crossings, slow inspection processes for incoming goods and vehicles, and the ongoing conflict throughout Gaza. While not explicitly blaming Israel, they noted that these factors, largely influenced by Israel, are impeding aid efforts.

The conflict, which began with a Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7, has led to devastating destruction in Gaza. Most of its 2.3 million inhabitants have been displaced, with a significant portion facing starvation. This situation is also heightening tensions in the region, with Iran-backed groups in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen launching strikes in support of the Palestinians. Notably, a missile from Yemen’s Houthi rebels recently struck an American-owned cargo ship.

In Gaza, the desperation among civilians is palpable. Al Jazeera footage showed people scrambling towards what seemed to be an aid truck in Gaza City. The authenticity of this video could not be independently verified by The Associated Press.

The World Food Program, UNICEF, and the World Health Organization are calling for new access routes into Gaza, an increase in the number of trucks allowed entry, and safe movement for aid workers and aid recipients.

The U.N. Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, highlighted the challenges in delivering aid amidst the intense bombardment in Gaza. He noted the loss of 152 U.N. staff members in the conflict, marking a significant tragedy for the organization.

The Health Ministry in Hamas-controlled Gaza reported that 132 more deaths from Israeli strikes were recorded, bringing the total death toll to 24,100. The Ministry’s figures, which don’t differentiate between combatants and non-combatants, indicate that two-thirds of the deceased are women and children. Israel, however, asserts that it has killed approximately 8,000 militants, a claim for which no evidence was provided.

Israel holds Hamas responsible for the high Palestinian casualty count, accusing the group of using civilian structures for military purposes and operating within densely populated areas.

Recent military actions included Israeli forces targeting militants in Khan Younis and northern Gaza. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated that the intense offensive in southern Gaza would be scaled down once military control is established in the area.

In a related incident, a woman was killed and 12 others injured in a car-ramming and stabbing attack in a Tel Aviv suburb. Israeli police reported that at least two Palestinians carried out this attack, involving the theft of three cars and attempts to run down pedestrians. Hamas commended the attack but didn’t claim responsibility.

During the conflict, around 350 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank, mostly during confrontations and protests.

Additionally, Hamas reported that two of their hostages were killed in Israeli airstrikes. A video released by Hamas showed three hostages, including Noa Argamani, Yossi Sharabi, and Itay Svirsky, speaking under apparent duress. Argamani later claimed that Sharabi and Svirsky were killed in separate airstrikes.

Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari of the Israeli military expressed concern over the safety of the hostages and stated that Israel was unaware of their exact location when it struck a nearby building. Defense Minister Gallant emphasized that military pressure was necessary to secure

the release of the remaining hostages and dismissed the possibility of a ceasefire.

The war has caused a significant humanitarian crisis in Gaza, already weakened by a long-standing blockade imposed by Israel and Egypt following Hamas’ rise to power in 2007. This crisis is particularly severe in northern Gaza, where less than a quarter of aid convoys reached their destinations in January, due to access denials by Israeli authorities. The U.N. agencies have expressed a need for access to the Israeli port of Ashdod to facilitate larger aid shipments to northern Gaza, which has faced extensive damage since the beginning of the conflict.

The U.N. and others have criticized Israel for the issues with aid delivery. Moshe Tetro, an official with COGAT, an Israeli military body overseeing Palestinian civilian affairs, suggested that more efficient aid delivery could be achieved if the U.N. provided more personnel to handle and pack supplies. He also called for more trucks to transport aid for security checks and an extension of working hours at the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt.

After Hamas’ initial attack on October 7, Israel tightened its restrictions on Gaza, which were somewhat eased following pressure from the U.S. The international community, including the U.S. and U.N., continues to urge Israel to improve the flow of aid into Gaza.