Israeli airstrikes in Gaza have resulted in the deaths of over 30 Palestinians

Over 30 Palestinians, including young children, have tragically lost their lives in two separate Israeli airstrikes that occurred overnight into Saturday in the Gaza Strip, according to official reports. These events have raised serious concerns about the dwindling supplies and fuel in hospitals already struggling under pressure.

A distressing scene unfolded in a video from the Gaza City Civil Defense department, showing rescue teams navigating through the debris of a demolished home under the dim light of flashlights early Saturday. The footage heartbreakingly captured the aftermath of the Israeli strike, including injured children and a young girl being carried out, wrapped in blankets and visibly wounded.

The devastating attack on a residence in the Daraj neighborhood resulted in the death of at least 20 people, as stated by Civil Defense spokesperson Mahmoud Bassal. Another assault near Rafah, a city on the border with Egypt, claimed the lives of 13 individuals, including two children. Victims of this strike, mainly a displaced family from central Gaza, were transported to Abu Youssef al-Najjar hospital in Rafah, where an Associated Press reporter witnessed the scene.

The Health Ministry in Hamas-governed Gaza announced on Saturday that the death toll in the past 24 hours stood at 135 Palestinians, pushing the total number of casualties in the war to 23,843. The ministry’s figures, which do not distinguish between combatants and civilians, indicate that around two-thirds of the deceased are women and children. Injuries have exceeded 60,000.

Israel maintains that Hamas bears responsibility for the high number of civilian casualties, accusing the group of using civilian structures and densely populated areas for military purposes.

As the conflict in Gaza marks its 100th day on Sunday, only 15 of the 36 hospitals are partially operational, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) and OCHA, the United Nations’ humanitarian agency. The central Gaza hospital, Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, was left in darkness on Friday morning after exhausting its fuel supply.

Hospital staff managed to keep critical equipment like ventilators and incubators running with solar-charged batteries during daylight hours and received a small emergency fuel delivery from another hospital. However, the fuel shortage loomed again for Saturday unless the WHO could deliver a promised shipment. This crisis was further exacerbated by a recent decline in telecommunications connectivity across much of Gaza.

The outbreak of the war on Oct. 7 was reportedly sparked by an attack from Hamas and other militants, allegedly resulting in about 1,200 deaths in Israel and the taking of approximately 250 hostages. Since Israel’s ground operation began in late October, 186 Israeli soldiers have been killed, and 1,099 injured in Gaza. The ongoing offensive has displaced more than 85% of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents and caused extensive destruction.

The recent U.S. and British military actions against Houthi-controlled sites in Yemen, in response to Houthi drone and missile attacks on Red Sea commercial ships, have heightened concerns about the Gaza war escalating into a wider regional conflict.

Amidst critical shortages of food, water, and fuel in Gaza, OCHA reported that Israel has increasingly restricted humanitarian missions since the year’s start. Only 21% of necessary supplies are successfully reaching northern Gaza, severely hindering humanitarian response efforts.

International attempts, including those by the United States, to persuade Israel to alleviate the suffering of Palestinian civilians have had limited success. However, Gaza City’s Shifa Hospital, closed since November, has partially reopened, according to the WHO. The organization delivered fuel to Shifa, enabling a medical team to treat over 1,000 patients.

South Africa has initiated a case at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, accusing Israel of genocide. The case focuses on Israel’s alleged failure to meet the medical needs of Palestinians and accuses Israel of directly attacking healthcare facilities in Gaza.

South Africa’s case, which opened on Thursday, seeks provisional measures, including an immediate halt to Israel’s offensive and provision of essential supplies and medical assistance. In response, Israel’s legal team countered, alleging that Hamas uses civilian facilities for military purposes and asserting Israel’s efforts to protect civilians and assist hospitals. The timeline for a decision on South Africa’s case remains uncertain.

This situation in Gaza highlights the severe humanitarian crisis, with critical shortages of essentials such as food, water, fuel, and medical supplies. The ongoing conflict has brought immense suffering to the civilian population, exacerbated by the challenges faced by healthcare facilities and the limitations on aid delivery. The international community’s efforts to address these issues continue amid the complex dynamics of the conflict and the broader regional tensions.