At least 48 Palestinians, including 22 children and 15 women, were killed in Israeli air strikes on northern Gaza overnight, according to the Indonesian hospital. The strikes hit several homes in Jabalia town and refugee camp, with reports of destruction and casualties. A video shared online showed multiple bodies on the floor as the conflict escalated.
UN Calls for Action
UN humanitarian affairs chief, Martin Griffiths, and others have urged the UN Security Council to take action to prevent genocide in Gaza. Tom Fletcher, head of the UN Palestinian refugee agency, accused Israel of “deliberately and unashamedly imposing inhumane conditions on civilians” and called for an end to Israel’s 10-week blockade on Gaza. Fletcher also criticized the Israeli-US plan to take over humanitarian aid distribution in the territory.
Israeli Response
The Israeli military said it was investigating reports of civilian casualties and had warned residents of Jabalia and neighboring areas to evacuate after Palestinian armed groups launched rockets into Israel. Israeli ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, claimed foreign aid was being used to support Hamas’s war effort.
Ceasefire Negotiations
US Special Envoys Steve Witkoff and Adam Boehler will travel to Qatar for fresh negotiations on a possible ceasefire and hostage release deal. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has threatened to expand the military offensive unless Hamas releases the 58 hostages it is still holding.
Recent Violence
A massive Israeli air strike on the European hospital’s compound in southern Gaza killed at least 28 people, according to local officials. The Israeli military described it as “a precise strike on Hamas terrorists who were operating in a command-and-control centre” underneath the hospital.
Humanitarian Crisis
The conflict has resulted in significant humanitarian concerns, with reports of malnutrition and starvation among children in Gaza. The BBC’s Fergal Keane reported on the rise of malnutrition in Gaza’s children, highlighting the desperate situation faced by many families.