At least 35 Palestinians were killed and more than 100 were injured on Wednesday as Israel continues to attack Gaza.
The airstrike targeting a home in the heart of the enclave killed at least 12 people, including children, as reported by staff at a Palestinian hospital that received the deceased.
The early morning attack targeted three homes in the Nusai Rat refugee camp. According to morgue staff, the victims included three children, two of whom were siblings, and the remains arrived at the debris.
Israel has been struggling daily in homes, shelters and public spaces since moving to resume fighting on March 18th. The lockdown has taken over more than 2 million Gaza for almost two months, including essential food and medical supplies.
The UN reports that food reservoirs are depleted and humanitarian organizations show thousands of Palestinian children suffering from malnutrition.
Israel claims the lockdown is intended to force Hamas to release hostages, which were filmed on October 7, 2023. Nevertheless, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights warned this week that using starvation as a military strategy against civilians constitutes a war crime.
The UN warns that supply will run out in a few days
The UN Humanitarian Agency has reported a significant shortage of food, water and medical supplies as medical services deteriorate and charity kitchens are shut down.
The agency known as OCHA announced Wednesday that it would distribute a final 60 emergency shelter kits that do not include tents.
The United Nations Population Fund shows that it has discharged all shelter materials, sanitary products and menstrual hygiene kits.
Ocha further said there are only seven hospitals and four field hospitals that continue to provide obstetric and neonatal care to Gaza families, which are home to over 2 million people.
Meanwhile, hospitals have observed a significant increase in cases of malnourished pregnant and breastfeeding women, with the majority of newborns currently at underweight.
Charity Kitchen at risk of shutdown
Many Palestinians gathered in Deial Bala and Nusayrat’s charity kitchens and when food throughout the territory ran out, they got their only meal of the day. On Wednesday, one kitchen served pasta with thin tomato sauce, while another served only lentils.
Many people were pushed against each other, yelling as they raised pots and containers into the air in desperate attempts not to leave empty-handed.
“There’s hunger star. There’s no food or drink,” said Wafa, a woman who was evacuated with eight families in Nusairat. “If the charity kitchen is closed, it would be a serious crisis.”
Abu Hamza Fawaz, who works with Deir Al-Balah’s Charity Kitchen, said the kitchen will close in a few days due to a lack of food and fuel.
Ahmed Yassin, who works in another charity kitchen in Nuseirat, said that a considerable number of small charity kitchens had been closed some time ago and people had to resort to the main communal kitchen.
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 59 people, of which 24 are thought to be alive.
Subsequent Israeli attacks killed more than 52,400 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Hamaslan Gaza Health Ministry, which does not distinguish fighter jets and civilians. According to the latest figure in the Israeli military, 850 soldiers have been killed since the start of the war.
Additional sources •AP
