DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — On Thursday, an Israeli military strike in central and southern Gaza resulted in the deaths of at least 17 individuals, including 10 children and three women, according to local health officials. The attack involved strikes on houses and tents, leading to families being trapped under the debris as international calls for a ceasefire intensified.
French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking during the United Nations General Assembly in New York, addressed the recognition of a Palestinian state by France, emphasizing it as vital to isolating Hamas. He criticized the current military operations in Gaza, stating, "Total war in Gaza is causing civilian casualties but can’t bring about the end of Hamas. Factually, it’s a failure." Macron stressed the importance of presenting a pathway to peace in order to halt the ongoing conflict.
Israeli officials, particularly within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, have discussed the annexation of the occupied West Bank in response to growing international acknowledgment of Palestinian statehood, a move that would likely remove the Palestinian Authority’s control in significant regions. Macron warned that such actions would cross a "red line" for both France and potentially the United States.
In Gaza, the repercussions of the strikes were devastating. Early Thursday morning, an attack during the night struck a tent and house in Zawaida, resulting in the deaths of at least 12 people, as reported by the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah. Among the deceased were a couple and five of their children, alongside three other minors. Footage captured the destruction, with mourners searching for a missing child beneath the rubble.
Another strike hit a tent in Deir al-Balah, killing a girl and injuring seven others. An additional attack in the southern city of Khan Younis claimed the lives of a man, his pregnant wife, their 10-year-old child, and another female relative, according to Nasser Hospital.
The humanitarian crisis in northern Gaza has reached alarming levels, with increasing reports of famine conditions. Israel's military operations have caused more than 300,000 individuals to flee, yet as many as 700,000 remain trapped, primarily due to the prohibitive costs of relocating. The food crisis has been exacerbated by the cessation of aid deliveries through Israel's crossing points since September 12, alongside rejections of U.N. requests for aid movement from the southern Gaza regions.
Many charity kitchens in northern Gaza have been forced to close due to military operations, drastically reducing the daily meals provided to the population from a significant number to just 59,000. Furthermore, the closure of the border crossing between the West Bank and Jordan—reported earlier this week—threatens to severely limit the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, a significant concern for organizations working to assist civilians in the region.
On the regional front, the Israeli military announced airstrikes in Yemen targeting Houthi military installations following a drone attack by Houthi rebels, which resulted in injuries to 22 individuals in the city of Eilat, Israel. The strikes reportedly affected civilian areas, resulting in casualties, including a woman and child near an attack site in Sanaa.
In response to the international recognition of a Palestinian state by several countries including France, Belgium, and the United Kingdom, Netanyahu condemned this initiative, asserting that he would communicate his stance at the U.N. General Assembly and denounce those endorsing Palestinian statehood. He emphasized Israel's position against giving a state to entities he described as "murderers" and "child burners."
As of now, more than 65,000 individuals have lost their lives due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, with over 167,000 reported injuries. The casualty figures, primarily provided by the Gaza Health Ministry, include a substantial number of women and children, highlighting the humanitarian toll of the ongoing violence. Meanwhile, the U.S., along with entities such as Egypt and Qatar, continues attempts to negotiate a ceasefire in Gaza, undermined by escalating military actions on both sides.
