Targeting regions thought to be home to remaining hostages, Israeli tanks entered new southern and eastern sections of Deir AlBalah in Gaza for the first time since the beginning of the battle. The assault follows humanitarian organizations’ alarms of an impending disaster brought on by pervasive starvation and medical collapse.
Local medical sources indicate that at least three Palestinians died and numerous more were injured in tank shelling that struck homes and mosques. Earlier issuing evacuation orders, Israeli soldiers had sent hundreds of families running toward the coastal areas of Deir AlBalah and Khan Younis.
After a tent was struck in a different airstrike on Khan Younis, at least five people—including two kids—were reported dead. The Israeli military made no official statement about these deaths; yet officials have stated that until now the military had avoided entering specific sections of Deir AlBalah because Hamas may be harboring hostages there. Of the roughly 50 hostages left, at least 20 are thought to still be alive.
The increase matches an escalating humanitarian catastrophe. With hospital workers living on one meal each day and medical supplies quickly running out, Gaza’s health officials have confirmed at least 19 hunger related deaths since Saturday. The health ministry cautioned of “mass deaths” without instant help.
Adding fuel to the fire, Israeli forces are said to have fired close to a humanitarian aid convoy in northern Gaza, killing at least 67 hungry people. The military insisted it does not target aid distribution and challenged the reported death toll, arguing its forces only shot warning shots to stop what it saw as a threat.
With U.S. backed Egypt and Qatar facilitating, the rising death count and increasing hunger are now threatening to derail delicate Doha ceasefire talks. According to a Hamas official talking to Reuters, rising civilian deaths among other conditions on the ground were raising questions about progress on a suggested 60-day ceasefire and hostage release.
Simultaneously, UNRWA, the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, said it was getting urgent cries from within Gaza, including from its own personnel. Access is still closed even if there are enough food supplies stored outside Gaza to sustain the population for months. UNRWA has urged rapid and secure entry of large-scale humanitarian assistance.
Following the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel when Hamas terrorists murdered 1,200 people and kidnapped 251 others, the war started. Local health authorities estimate that over 58,000 Palestinians have been slain in Gaza since then as the area suffers unrivaled displacement and humanitarian catastrophe.
