Israel advanced on Thursday with a new military attack in Gaza despite international criticism. Gaza health authorities and hospital staff say airstrikes were fired across the enclave, killing at least 107 Palestinians and wounding nearly 250 more.
As artillery fire continued, massive amounts of smoke were seen rising in the eastern region of Gaza City (Gaza City, north of the strip). Hospital staff said hospitals in northern Gaza were also highly targeted.
Videos circulating on social media say Israeli tanks and drones are reportedly attacking Al Auda Hospital, causing massive damage and setting for the hospital. Video released by hospital staff showed thick black smoke rising above the walls blown away and the tile ble was shrunk to the tile rub.
Israeli forces said its forces were “adjacent” to Al-Auda Hospital and allowed emergency workers to try and launch a fire at the hospital. They denied responsibility for the attack and instead said, “The fire situation is still under review.”
According to Raafat Ali Al-Majdalawi, director of the Al-Awda Health and Community Association, Israeli military targeted the hospital’s aquarium and set fire to outpatient clinics.
Al Auda Hospital was one of two remaining hospitals north of the enclave. The number of people injured or killed in these strikes is not immediately clear.
Updated attacks against Lebanon
Israel carried out strikes in several regions of southern Lebanon on Thursday, according to Lebanon’s state news agency.
The strike was described as “the most violent in some regions” as the ceasefire contract ended the latest Israel-Hezbollah war in November. Residents of northern Israel also reported hearing a major explosion across the border.
The Israeli Army issued a warning notice before one strike that destroyed a building in the town of Tuol, which it said is a facility belonging to Hezbollah.
Videos from the aftermath of the strike showed fires and huge clouds of smoke covered in an area packed with multi-storey apartments. Strikes in other regions took place without warning. There were no immediate reports of victims.
Israel has hit Lebanon almost every day since the ceasefire. Lebanon says these strikes are in violation of the ceasefire agreement, but Israel says it is targeting Hezbollah to prevent it from reopening.
The wave of airstrikes came two days before local elections were scheduled to take place in southern Lebanon.
Lebanon Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said the attack “will not thwart the state from its commitment to the election process,” calling for the international community to put more pressure on Israel.
Israel denies food shortages in Gaza
The United Nations says it has arrived in Gaza with aid carrying around 90 trucks, and its contents have been distributed to the desperately needed population. Since Israel ended its almost three months of lockdown on strips that have yet to reach the Palestinians, about half of about 200 trucks have entered the enclave.
“The volume of shipments since yesterday is limited and is not sufficient to meet the size and scope of Gaza’s 2.1 million people,” said UN spokesman Stephen Duharlic.
During the latest ceasefire, 600 trucks were crossing Gaza every day carrying food, fuel, vital aid and medical supplies.
The Israeli military agency responsible for transferring Kogat’s assistance to Gaza said on Thursday there is no food shortage in Gaza.
“According to our current assessment, there is no food shortage in Gaza at this time,” Cogat said in a statement from X.
International humanitarian organisations have rejected the statement, calling aid arriving in Gaza at the moment, calling it a “sea cancellation” of what is needed to meet the needs of its residents.
This week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu allowed a flow of aid at a “minimum” level to maintain support from the US and its allies in an international criticism of the government’s act of war.
At a televised press conference on Wednesday, the Israeli leader noted that his war against his government’s enclave will not end until Israel achieves all its military goals.
The Israeli Prime Minister said he was opening up to another temporary ceasefire to release the remaining hostages, but stressed that the war would eventually resume.
Netanyahu emphasized that combat will only cease once Hamas releases all remaining hostages, step out of power, dismantles, disarms, and leaves Gaza.
He also announced that the long-term plan would include the implementation of a controversial postwar plan in which President Donald Trump would relocate a population of 2.1 million to neighboring countries. Trump also said the US would “take ownership” in Gaza.
Palestinians, along with almost all international communities, rejected Trump’s proposal to empty Palestinian Gaza and place their territory under Washington’s control.
The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people. Hamas took 251 people as hostages and currently has 58 people, of which 20 are thought to be alive.
Subsequent Israeli attacks killed more than 53,762 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Hamasran’s Gaza Health Ministry, which does not distinguish fighters and civilians.
