GAZA CITY: Health officials in Gaza on Monday reported that the death toll from ongoing relentless Israeli military bombardment has surpassed 24,100, mostly women and children, since October 7. The ongoing Israeli violence has not only left Gaza in ruins but has also triggered deadly clashes in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and along the border with Lebanon.
“The Israeli occupation (forces) committed 12 massacres against families in the Gaza Strip, resulting in 132 casualties and 252 injuries over the past 24 hours,” the ministry said in a statement.
The health ministry in Gaza reported that overnight attacks resulted in over 60 casualties, with two hospitals, a girls’ school, and several homes among the targets. Hospitals in Gaza, already struggling to function, have been repeatedly hit, rendering most of them non-operational, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The humanitarian catastrophe has left 2.4 million Palestinian people in Gaza facing severe shortages of food, water, fuel, and medical care.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the situation, stating that people in Gaza are “living in hell,” echoing earlier warnings of an imminent famine by the UN. In a post on X, he said: “100 days, and counting, of incessant insecurity and fear is beyond words. Everything must be done to end the violence to prevent more needless death and injury. Release the hostages now.
In a joint statement, WHO, World Food Programme (WFP), and UNICEF called for urgent measures, emphasizing the need for a “fundamental step change” in humanitarian aid flow into Gaza. The agencies urged the opening of “safer, faster” supply routes, highlighting the inadequacy of current aid levels in preventing a deadly combination of hunger, malnutrition, and disease.
85% of Gaza Population Already Internally Displaced
According to the UN, 85% of the population of Gaza is already internally displaced amid acute shortages of clean water, food, and medicine, while 60% of the enclave’s infrastructure is damaged or destroyed.
International pressure on Israel has mounted over the increasing civilian casualties in Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces domestic scrutiny for political and security shortcomings surrounding the October 7 attacks. On the war’s 100th day, Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv, calling for action to rescue the remaining hostages.
Violence involving regional allies of Hamas has surged, including clashes in Yemen, where US forces engaged with rebels in the Red Sea. On the Israel-Lebanon border, Hezbollah and Israeli forces continue to exchange fire. China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi proposed an “international summit for peace” during his visit to Egypt, while Australia’s top diplomat Penny Wong plans diplomatic efforts in the region for a durable peace.
