In recent days, the situation in northern Gaza has escalated dramatically, with at least 50 Palestinians reported dead following a series of Israeli airstrikes. The Indonesian hospital in the region confirmed that among the deceased were 22 children and 15 women, casualties of the strikes that targeted homes in Jabalia town and its refugee camp. Videos circulating online depict a grim scene, showing numerous bodies strewn across the floor.
The Israeli military acknowledged the reports but stated it was still investigating the incidents. Prior to the strikes, they had issued warnings to the residents of Jabalia and surrounding areas to evacuate after rockets were launched from Gaza into Israeli territory. This call for evacuation came amid rising international concerns, with the United Nations' humanitarian affairs chief urging the UN Security Council to intervene to prevent further violence and potential genocide in Gaza.
During a meeting in New York, UN official Tom Fletcher accused Israel of imposing inhumane conditions on Gaza's civilians. He urged Israel to lift its ongoing blockade, which has lasted for over ten weeks, and criticized a proposed Israeli-US plan that would see humanitarian aid distribution taken over by private companies, calling it a cover for further violence and displacement. Israel's UN envoy, Danny Danon, rejected these allegations as unfounded, maintaining that the current aid system was being exploited to support Hamas, a claim both the UN and Hamas have denied.
The conflict's toll is heavy, with local health officials reporting that 70 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes across Gaza on Wednesday, most occurring around Jabalia. Residents described a night of terror, with multiple explosions heard and flames lighting up the night sky. Amidst the destruction, individuals like Hadi Moqbel mourn the loss of family members, recounting the devastation of homes reduced to rubble and lives lost, including that of a two-month-old baby.
In response to the escalating violence, the Israeli military issued what it termed a "final warning" to the residents of Jabalia and surrounding areas to evacuate to shelters in Gaza City. These warnings followed further rocket launches from Gaza into Israel, leading to sirens sounding in Israeli border towns. Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a group allied with Hamas, claimed responsibility for the rocket launches, citing them as retaliation for what they described as "Zionist massacres."
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has deepened since Israel ceased all deliveries of aid and supplies on March 2nd, resuming its offensive against Hamas on March 18th after a ceasefire collapsed. The UN reports that 20% of Gaza's 2.1 million residents have been displaced, with 70% of the region either within Israeli military no-go zones or under evacuation orders. Severe shortages of food and fuel have led to the closure of all UN-supported bakeries and over 60% of community kitchens providing hot meals. A recent UN-backed assessment highlighted the dire situation, warning of widespread food insecurity and the threat of starvation for half a million people.
Despite these conditions, Israel asserts compliance with international law, claiming no shortage of aid due to the influx of supplies during the ceasefire. However, Palestinians hope that a recent gesture by Hamas—releasing the last living Israeli-American hostage, Edan Alexander, as a goodwill gesture to US President Donald Trump—might lead to a new ceasefire and the lifting of the blockade. President Trump, currently visiting the Middle East, expressed hope for the release of more hostages, seeing it as a necessary step towards peace. His special envoys are involved in ongoing talks in Qatar, emphasizing the urgency of bringing all hostages home.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared Israel's intent to expand its military operations in Gaza, emphasizing a commitment to see the offensive through to its end. He has promised full force in the mission to dismantle Hamas, ruling out any possibility of halting the war, though allowing for the potential of temporary ceasefires.
The violence has also spread to other areas of Gaza, with an Israeli airstrike on the European hospital's compound in Khan Younis resulting in at least 28 deaths. The Israeli military described this as a targeted attack on Hamas operatives using the facility as a command center. Israeli media suggested the strike aimed to eliminate Mohammed Sinwar, believed to have assumed leadership of Hamas in Gaza after the death of his brother, Yahya Sinwar, in a previous Israeli operation.
This current conflict traces back to Israel's military campaign initiated in response to an unprecedented cross-border attack on October