At least 81 Palestinians were killed on Thursday as Israel launched its long-awaited assault on Gaza City. The city, home to nearly one million people, is now at the centre of worsening famine conditions.
Health officials in Gaza reported three additional deaths from starvation, raising the hunger-related toll to 269, including 112 children. Airstrikes and shelling also hit multiple areas across the enclave. Among the casualties were three displaced people killed at a tent shelter in southern Gaza.
In another tragic incident, former Palestinian basketball player Mohammed Shaalan was shot dead while seeking aid. Witnesses said at least 30 more people were killed at food distribution sites, further highlighting the humanitarian emergency.
The World Food Programme (WFP) warned that malnutrition has become widespread. “This isn’t just hunger. This is starvation,” the agency said, noting that nearly one in three children in Gaza City is now malnourished. The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) described conditions as catastrophic, with medical workers struggling to reach their posts under fire.
The civil defence authority in Gaza has warned that fuel shortages have crippled its ability to respond to emergencies. Human rights group Gisha accused Israel of deliberately restricting aid deliveries, saying that the blockade has been used as “a weapon of war since day one.”
The Israeli military confirmed it had called up 60,000 reservists for the campaign. Tanks are pushing closer to Gaza City’s centre, raising fears of mass displacement. UN officials warned that civilians have already been displaced multiple times since the conflict began.
Relatives of Israeli captives voiced anger at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him of ignoring a Hamas-backed ceasefire plan. Mediators from Qatar and Egypt are waiting for Israel to respond to the latest truce proposal, which includes a phased release of captives and expanded humanitarian aid.
Save the Children described Gaza’s plight as “an apocalyptic reality,” while experts urged urgent international pressure to prevent further devastation.
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