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The Israeli military has ramped up its offensive on Gaza with a series of comprehensive airstrikes, as reported by local residents. Health officials have raised alarms about a potential collapse of healthcare services due to Israel’s extensive blockade, which has severely restricted the flow of essential supplies.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, a crucial UN-backed polio vaccination initiative aimed at over 600,000 children has been put on hold, posing a risk of resurgence of the disease, which had nearly been eradicated in the region.
On the diplomatic front, a delegation from Hamas is expected to arrive in Cairo to negotiate. Sources close to the mediation efforts indicated that discussions could involve a long-term truce lasting five to seven years, contingent upon the release of hostages and a cessation of hostilities. However, Israel previously dismissed a Hamas proposal to exchange hostages for a cessation of military actions and continues to insist on the disarmament of Hamas, a demand the group staunchly opposes.
Despite the planned talks, a Hamas representative has denied any imminent visit, maintaining that any agreement must require an end to the ongoing conflict.
Reports from Gaza indicate that Israeli forces have conducted extensive bombings in various locales, targeting homes, refugee camps, and essential infrastructure. The airstrikes have reportedly destroyed equipment such as bulldozers and vehicles that were crucial for search-and-rescue efforts to recover bodies trapped under debris.
Casualties Rise Among Civilians
Recent airstrikes in southern Gaza, particularly in Khan Younis, have reportedly resulted in numerous civilian casualties. An early morning strike destroyed a multi-storey building, killing nine individuals including children and women. Among the deceased was a two-year-old girl and her family. A grieving grandfather lamented the loss, questioning the innocence of his granddaughter caught in the violence.
In addition to the tragedy in Khan Younis, strikes in the Jabalia refugee camp and Nuseirat also led to further loss of life, with multiple children among the deceased. The Israeli military has not commented on these specific incidents but has previously accused Hamas of exploiting civilian infrastructure for military operations, a claim that Hamas denies.
Hamas officials state that the destruction of recovery vehicles, including several that were received from Egypt, is intended to exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Urgent Need for Humanitarian Aid
Since mid-March, Israel has implemented a strict blockade on Gaza, which was intensified following the breakdown of a ceasefire. The aftermath of this military campaign has resulted in significant loss of life, with reports indicating that more than 1,600 Palestinians have died, and many have been displaced as Israeli forces established what they call a buffer zone within Gaza.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, with the UN stating that nearly all buildings have been rendered uninhabitable, forcing the majority of the 2.3 million residents into precarious living conditions. Essential services, including all UN-operated bakeries, have ceased to function.
Humanitarian groups express deep concern, warning that without immediate delivery of crucial supplies, including polio vaccines, the region could face unprecedented health crises. A spokesperson for Gaza’s Health Ministry stated that over 60,000 children are currently exhibiting signs of malnutrition.
International Reactions and Legal Justifications
Israel defends its blockade as a necessary measure to pressure Hamas into releasing the remaining Israeli hostages taken during the October 2023 attacks that triggered the current conflict. In a response to criticisms regarding the humanitarian situation, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz asserted that the military actions adhere to international law and emphasized the need to ensure that aid does not benefit Hamas.
Philippe Lazzarini, head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, has characterized the blockade as a form of collective punishment, calling for an end to the siege, the resumption of aid flow, and the initiation of a ceasefire.
The ongoing conflict erupted following a Hamas-led offensive on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in significant casualties on both sides, including the deaths of approximately 1,200 Israelis and the taking of 251 hostages. Since the commencement of the Israeli military response, local authorities report that casualty figures among Palestinians have exceeded 51,000.
Source
www.cbc.ca