Israel has initiated its long-anticipated assault on Gaza City, the enclave’s largest urban center, resulting in the deaths of at least 81 Palestinians. Nearly a million people in the city remain trapped in worsening famine conditions. According to Gaza health officials, three more Palestinians have died from starvation, bringing the total number of hunger-related deaths to 269, which includes 112 children.
Israeli airstrikes and shelling have hit across the Strip, including a tent shelter for displaced families in southern Gaza, killing three. In a separate incident, former Palestinian national basketball player Mohammed Shaalan was shot and killed while seeking aid. Witnesses reported that at least 30 other people were killed at food distribution points.
Widespread Famine and Aid Blockade
The UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that malnutrition is now rampant. The agency stated, “This isn’t just hunger. This is starvation,” noting that nearly one in three children in Gaza City is malnourished. The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) described the conditions as “catastrophic,” with doctors and aid workers forced to walk long distances under fire to reach their posts. Gaza’s civil defense authority has warned that it can no longer respond effectively to emergencies due to fuel shortages caused by the ongoing blockade.
The Israeli rights group Gisha accused Israel of using its control over aid as “a weapon of war since day one,” refuting Israeli claims that the UN was responsible for the blocked aid deliveries.
Israel’s Intensified Offensive
The Israeli military has confirmed that it has begun the first phases of its planned takeover of Gaza City, calling up 60,000 reservists for the campaign. Tanks have already moved closer to the city center in recent days. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric warned that the offensive risks “another mass displacement of people who’ve been displaced repeatedly since the war began.”
Relatives of Israeli captives have condemned the assault, accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of rejecting a Hamas-approved ceasefire proposal and ignoring families’ pleas. Hamas stated that Israel’s push into Gaza City shows its intention to “destroy the city and displace its residents.”
International Diplomacy and Ceasefire Negotiations
Mediators from Qatar and Egypt are currently awaiting Israel’s response to a new 60-day truce proposal. The plan includes a phased exchange of captives and prisoners and expanded humanitarian access. Hamas has already signaled its agreement to the terms.
Netanyahu has not commented publicly on the proposal but continues to insist that any deal must guarantee that “all hostages are released at once.” Save the Children’s regional director Ahmed Alhendawi described Gaza’s situation as “an apocalyptic reality for children, for their families, and for this generation.” Al Jazeera analyst Marwan Bishara noted that Arab states must pressure Washington, stating that “The Israelis are of two minds: preparing for re-occupation and ethnic cleansing, while also facing domestic pressure to secure hostages through a deal.”
