Amidst rising tensions, Israeli forces have surrounded the Hamas stronghold in Gaza City, as confirmed by Israel’s military. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) reports engaging in intense combat with Hamas operatives, who are launching sporadic assaults from underground tunnels.
The United Nations recently revealed that four of its educational institutions, which have been repurposed as shelters, sustained damage. Simultaneously, the global organization raised alarms about escalating water scarcity in the region.
According to the health ministry controlled by Hamas, the death toll of Palestinians has exceeded 9,000. In a shocking update, the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) declared that within a mere 24-hour window, four of their schools functioning as shelters were damaged. Tragically, a school in the Jabalia refugee camp witnessed the death of at least 20 individuals, UNRWA added. A child’s life was also reportedly lost in a school in the Beach refugee camp.
As the humanitarian crisis deepens, UN-appointed specialists are fervently advocating for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, emphasizing the impending “grave risk of genocide” for the Palestinian inhabitants.
They cautioned about the severe repercussions of barring fuel entry into Gaza and disrupting water supply chains, asserting that residents’ access to potable water has been drastically reduced.
While the Israeli mission to the UN in Geneva lambasted these remarks as “deplorable and deeply concerning,” it also attributed civilian fatalities to Hamas’s actions.
In a recent update, the IDF announced the elimination of approximately 130 Hamas fighters. The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, conveyed that the troops are navigating through “the height of battle,” having advanced beyond Gaza City’s periphery.
