At least 70 Palestinians were killed today in a wave of Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip, including nine fatalities near the as-Saraya junction in Gaza City. The strikes come amid escalating violence and deepening humanitarian chaos, as the civilian population continues to struggle for basic survival.
Multiple explosions were reported near a newly established aid distribution site run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) in central Gaza. The site, meant to provide urgently needed food and supplies, descended into panic as desperate crowds gathered. The United Nations has warned that the “window to prevent famine is closing fast,” with aid agencies facing increasing difficulty in delivering support to the war-torn region.
The GHF, backed by U.S. funding and approved by Israel, has faced sharp criticism from aid organizations for its heavily securitized and centralized distribution model. Civilians are required to travel long distances—often through unsafe areas—to reach aid points, many of which are exposed to military surveillance and potential strikes.
Today’s fatalities add to the soaring death toll from Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, at least 54,249 Palestinians have been killed and 123,492 wounded since the war began. The Government Media Office has placed the death toll even higher, at over 61,700, citing thousands presumed dead beneath the rubble.
The humanitarian catastrophe is compounded by political developments in the occupied West Bank, where the Israeli government has just approved 22 new illegal settlements—the largest single expansion of settlements in history. These moves further inflame tensions and threaten the already fragile situation across the Palestinian territories.
Israel’s military offensive was launched following the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks, which killed 1,139 people inside Israel and saw more than 200 individuals taken captive. The conflict has since spiralled into one of the deadliest and most destructive in the region’s modern history.
International organizations and human rights advocates continue to call for an immediate ceasefire and the establishment of a neutral, secure aid corridor. However, with airstrikes intensifying and famine looming, hope for relief appears increasingly out of reach for Gaza’s more than two million residents.
Sources: Aljazeera, Middle East Eye, The Economic Times
Photo Credit: Middle East Eye
