DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — A recent wave of airstrikes in Gaza City has resulted in the deaths of at least 32 individuals, including 12 children, according to medical staff at Shifa Hospital. This bombardment underscores Israel's intensifying military offensive in the region, as the Israeli army continues to advise Palestinians to evacuate for their safety.
Israel's airstrikes have predominantly targeted high-rise buildings, which they accuse Hamas of utilizing for military purposes, including surveillance. On a particularly tragic night, a strike in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood claimed the lives of a family of ten, among whom were a mother and her three children. Additionally, the Palestinian Football Association reported that Mohammed Ramez Sultan, a player for the Al-Helal Sporting Club, was killed alongside 14 family members during these strikes.
In response to the ongoing conflict, relatives of Israeli hostages held by Hamas gathered in Tel Aviv, urging the government to negotiate a deal for their release. They expressed frustration over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's approach, which they believe undermines efforts to secure the safe return of their loved ones. Einav Zangauker, the mother of hostage Matan Zangauker, criticized the recent attempt to assassinate Hamas leaders in Qatar, labeling it a “spectacular failure.”
While some families in Gaza City have managed to flee the escalating violence, many remain trapped due to financial constraints or a lack of trust in the safety of other areas. Aid workers have noted an increase in the number of people leaving the city; however, they emphasize that countless families are unable to relocate for various reasons. The Israeli army has urged remaining Palestinians in Gaza City to evacuate immediately to designated humanitarian zones in the south, claiming that more than a quarter of a million people have already left the northern region.
The United Nations, however, offers a different estimate, stating that approximately 100,000 individuals left between mid-August and mid-September. The U.N. and various humanitarian organizations have warned that such mass displacements could aggravate the already dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The southern regions where Israel directs evacuees are reportedly overcrowded, and many families lack the resources to move once again.
Gaza's Health Ministry reported that seven individuals, including children, died from malnutrition-related causes within 24 hours, bringing the total number of malnutrition-related deaths to 420 since the conflict's start, with 145 being children. The bombardment on Gaza City followed a strike targeting Hamas leaders in Qatar, further complicating negotiations aimed at ceasing hostilities in the region.
Families of the remaining 48 hostages in Gaza are increasingly concerned that the military offensive will put their loved ones' lives in jeopardy. Since the outbreak of the conflict on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants infiltrated southern Israel, the impact has been devastating, with approximately 64,803 Palestinians reported killed — though the exact number of civilians versus combatants remains unclear. The United Nations estimates that around 90% of the 2 million people living in Gaza have been displaced, leading to widespread destruction across major cities.
As the situation continues to unfold, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza becomes increasingly urgent, highlighting the profound challenges faced by civilians caught in the crossfire of an ongoing conflict.
