Continuing violence in Gaza post the temporary ceasefire has resulted in tragic consequences: 131 more Palestinians lost their lives, with 650 sustaining injuries, raising the death toll to 240 in just two days. Among the casualties are women and children.
Reports from BBC and Al Jazeera indicate that since the ceasefire ended, essential aid has ceased to pass through the Rafah crossing, exacerbating an already dire situation.
Intense clashes persist between Israeli soldiers and Hamas fighters in northern Gaza. Israeli airstrikes continue unabated, targeting various areas including northwestern Gaza and Khan Yunis in the south. Hundreds of thousands have fled, seeking refuge amidst the bombardments. Notably, houses, including one near Nasir Hospital where BBC journalists were present, have been targeted.
Residents in northern Gaza neighborhoods, such as Jabalia, al-Zaytoun, and al-Shaja’iyya, have been instructed by the Israeli army to evacuate. The scope of the Israeli bombardment covers the entire Gaza region, with a particular focus on areas where civilians were urged to seek shelter.
James Elder, the UN children’s agency spokesperson, described the ongoing clashes as “devastating for the people of Gaza.” Nasir Hospital is overwhelmed, housing injured children and families. The hospital’s capacity to treat the injured has reached its limit, with a distressing influx of severely burned children.
Rob Holden, a senior emergency officer with the World Health Organization, painted a harrowing picture of al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City, likening it to scenes from a horror movie. Patients with gruesome injuries lie on the floor, while victim bodies line the hospital’s car park.
Supplies of essential resources like cooking gas, food, and water are scarce. Shops stand empty, lacking aid to distribute to the homeless. The situation is dire for those sleeping in tents, struggling with cold weather and insufficient provisions of basic necessities. Hospitals are grappling with a shortage of water, food, and medicine, compounding the suffering.
