Escalation in Gaza: Intensive Israeli Airstrikes Leave Dozens Dead, Worsening Humanitarian Crisis

Intensive Israeli airstrikes have resulted in the deaths of at least 32 Palestinians, including 12 children, across Gaza City, according to medical staff at Al-Shifa Hospital. This escalation comes as Israel intensifies its assault on the city, urging residents to evacuate, and claiming to be targeting Hamas positions.

The Gaza Health Ministry reported that seven people, including children, died from malnutrition-related causes in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of hunger-related deaths to 420, with 145 being children, since the start of the conflict. Israel has intensified its attacks on Gaza City, destroying several high-rise buildings, alleging that Hamas uses them for military purposes. The Israeli army claimed it targeted a residential tower used by Hamas in Gaza City and ordered residents to leave as part of an assault to seize control of the city.

One of the airstrikes killed an entire family of 10 in the Al-Sheikh Radwan neighborhood, including a mother and her three children. The Palestinian Football Association also announced that Al-Hilal Sports Club player, Mohammed Ramez Sultan, was killed along with 14 members of his family in these strikes. Despite the escalating violence, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians remain trapped in the city, suffering from severe conditions and a critical lack of food.

In response to repeated calls from the Israeli army for immediate evacuation, a growing number of residents have left the city in recent weeks. However, many families remain unable to leave due to the high costs of transportation and housing, or because they do not trust that any other location in the strip will be safe. While the Israeli army estimated that over a quarter of a million people have left northern Gaza, the United Nations stated that the actual number is around 100,000 between mid-August and mid-September.

The United Nations and aid organizations have warned that displacing hundreds of thousands of people will worsen the already catastrophic humanitarian crisis. A UN-led initiative revealed that over 86,000 tents and other relief supplies are still awaiting approval to enter Gaza, highlighting the immense difficulties facing aid efforts in the strip.