The campaign, primarily targeting Hamas, has compelled thousands to flee their homes and seek refuge in recent days.
The ongoing aggression has claimed the lives of over 21,000 Palestinians, and approximately 85% of the 2.3 million population has been displaced from their homes. Large portions of northern Gaza have been decimated, leaving it largely depopulated and isolated. There are growing concerns that a similar fate awaits the southern regions as israel expands its offensive throughout the enclave.
While the United States continues to provide crucial support for the offensive, it has urged Israel to enhance measures to protect civilians and facilitate the entry of more aid. However, humanitarian workers on the ground report that the influx of essential supplies, including food, fuel, and medical resources, remains insufficient. Shockingly, UN officials reveal that 1 in 4 Palestinians in Gaza is facing starvation.
One of the recent israeli airstrikes targeted a home in the northern town of Beit Lahiyeh, burying at least 21 people, including women and children, marking one of the first targets of the ground invasion initiated in October.
In central Gaza, Israeli warplanes and artillery relentlessly pounded the densely populated Bureij and Nuseirat refugee camps, causing extensive destruction. Israel had announced plans earlier in the week to expand its ground offensive into central Gaza, with the military employing airstrikes and shelling before advancing troops and tanks.
The hospital in the nearby town of Deir al-Balah received the bodies of 25 people killed overnight, including five children and seven women. The town, housing hundreds of thousands seeking shelter, has experienced continuous explosions throughout the night, with many residents enduring cold nights sleeping on sidewalks.
The situation remains dire as the conflict escalates, deepening the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. (ILKHA)