International organizations continue to urge for urgent assistance to the Gaza Strip, where Palestinians are enduring relentless Israeli bombardments and severe food shortages that claim the lives of those who survive the attacks. Meanwhile, Israel threatens to escalate its operations in the region and has openly stated that it is seeking countries willing to accept displaced Palestinians.
Once again, the Israeli military targeted the European Hospital in southern Gaza yesterday, with the facility experiencing a series of intense airstrikes. The bombardment caused significant damage to many parts of the hospital, resulting in a deep crater forming in the area.
Local sources report that several Palestinians were killed or injured due to the violent assault on the hospital. An initial assessment from Gaza’s Ministry of Health revealed that six individuals have been confirmed dead and over 40 injured as a result of Israel’s incendiary strikes on the hospital’s internal courtyards. Additionally, there are reports of people being buried in the rubble owing to the airstrikes.
An Israeli airstrike on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, in the southern part of the territory, led to the death of a well-known Palestinian journalist, who was accused by Israel of affiliation with Hamas. The journalist was receiving treatment for injuries sustained in a prior air raid.
Israel implicated Hassan Aslih, who has hundreds of thousands of followers on social media, claiming his involvement in the October 7, 2023 attack was tied to his efforts in “filming and documenting” the events.
The Palestinian Civil Defense stated that the strike hit the third floor of the hospital, where numerous patients and injured individuals were receiving care. The Ministry of Health confirmed that two patients, including Aslih, lost their lives, with several others sustaining injuries.
In a typical attempt to justify the bombardment of hospitals and makeshift shelters, the Israeli military claimed to have targeted “senior Hamas operatives who were operating from within a command and control center” located in the hospital without providing their names.
A Whole Generation
Meanwhile, Rick Peppercorn, a representative of the World Health Organization, reported yesterday that 57 children have died due to the effects of malnutrition amid the ongoing blockade of Gaza. He noted a rise in the number of children suffering from nutritional deficiencies.
He further emphasized that the rates of malnutrition in Gaza are escalating, and the treatments necessary to combat this health crisis are running low, warning that hunger could have lasting impacts on “a whole generation.”
Philippe Lazzarini, the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), stated in an interview that Israel is utilizing food and humanitarian aid as “weapons of war.” He highlighted that the ongoing blockade is exacerbating severe malnutrition conditions.
The organization underlined that the levels of acute malnutrition among pregnant and breastfeeding women and children are contingent on the decisions made by Israeli authorities regarding the facilitation or prohibition of humanitarian assistance.
They confirmed that the peak levels of acute malnutrition detected in 2024 coincided with sharp declines in the number of trucks transporting aid to Gaza on a monthly basis.
The head of the organization, Jean-François Corty, expressed, “We are witnessing not just a humanitarian crisis but a moral collapse when hunger is utilized as a weapon of warfare.”
He added, “The failure of nations that possess the capability to pressure Israeli authorities into lifting the deadly blockade is unacceptable and may be viewed as complicity under international law.”
The Displacement Issue
Simultaneously, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to focus on the issue of displacement. Yesterday, he indicated that his government is working to identify countries that might be willing to host Palestinians from Gaza.
He mentioned to a group of soldiers injured in combat at his office, “We have established an administration that allows them (Gaza residents) the possibility of leaving, but we need countries that are willing to accept them. This is currently our focus,” estimating that “more than 50% of them will leave” if given the opportunity.
Ongoing War
He also declared that the military is set to enter Gaza “with full force” in the coming days, according to a statement released by his office. The statement read, “We will enter Gaza with all our might in the coming days to complete the operation. Completing the operation means defeating Hamas and annihilating Hamas.” He added, “There will be no scenario in which we halt the war. There may be a temporary ceasefire.”