Israeli military operations in Gaza City have intensified, resulting in the deaths of over 100 Palestinians, including aid seekers, as Israel seeks to take control of the region’s largest urban area, home to approximately 1 million people.
On Tuesday, at least 105 Palestinians were killed as Israeli airstrikes targeted densely populated areas, particularly the al-Sabra neighbourhood, which has been under heavy bombardment for several days. Of the casualties, 32 were reportedly killed while attempting to access aid.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the situation as a “decisive stage” in the war, with Israel pushing forward to capture Gaza City, despite widespread global condemnation.
The humanitarian crisis deepens, with starvation claiming at least 13 lives in the last 24 hours, raising the total death toll due to hunger since the conflict began to 361. On August 22, a global hunger monitor confirmed famine conditions in Gaza, with 83 of those deaths occurring since the declaration.
Among those killed on Tuesday, 21 were hit by an Israeli drone strike while waiting for water in the al-Mawasi area near Khan Younis in southern Gaza. The attack left seven children dead.
Palestinian Civil Defence spokesperson Mahmoud Basal shared online images of the attack, showing children’s bodies and water containers stained with blood, stating, “They were standing in line to fill up water … when the occupation forces directly targeted them, turning their search for life into a new massacre.”
In Gaza City, an Israeli strike on the home of a family resulted in the deaths of 10 individuals, mostly women and children, reports Al Jazeera. Gaza’s Government Media Office condemned these actions, calling them “war crimes under international law” and accusing the US of complicity. The office called on the UN Security Council to halt what it described as a “brutal genocide.”
Two more journalists, Rasmi Salem from al-Manara and Eman al-Zamli, were killed on Tuesday, bringing the total number of media workers killed since October 7, 2023, to over 270, marking the deadliest conflict for journalists. Press advocacy groups have expressed grave concerns about the safety of media personnel in the region.
Meanwhile, thousands of Israeli reservists were called up for duty as the conflict showed no sign of resolution.
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Majed al-Ansari, said Hamas had agreed to a ceasefire proposal, but Israel had not yet responded. He warned that Israel’s plan to occupy Gaza could pose a significant threat to all parties involved, including Israeli captives.
Despite this, Israel has further tightened its siege on Gaza, limiting humanitarian aid deliveries.
Israeli Army Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir confirmed that ground operations would intensify as more soldiers were mobilised. Israeli media reported that 365 soldiers had refused to report for duty.
Prime Minister Netanyahu, who is sought by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity, stated in a video on Tuesday, “We are working to defeat Hamas.”
Meanwhile, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry, after welcoming Belgium’s recognition of the State of Palestine, also criticised the international community for its lack of response to Gaza’s economic collapse and Israel’s seizure of Palestinian tax revenues. It called for urgent financial support to strengthen Palestinian resilience and help them remain on their land.
