Gaza Death Toll Climbs Amid Israeli Strikes Surge \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Gaza’s Health Ministry reported 79 new deaths from Israeli airstrikes in the past 24 hours, excluding inaccessible northern regions. Among the dead were nine of a pediatrician’s ten children. The humanitarian crisis deepens as aid remains scarce and hospitals endure escalating assaults.
Quick Looks
- Death Toll Rises: 79 people killed in the past 24 hours, per Gaza’s Health Ministry.
- Family Tragedy: Pediatrician Alaa Najjar lost nine children in Khan Younis strike.
- Military Justification: Israel claims it targeted a “dangerous war zone.”
- Aid Blockade: Aid trucks trickle in, far below pre-blockade levels.
- Hospital Under Siege: Staff trapped in European Hospital amid airstrikes.
- Hostage Stalemate: Israel demands Hamas release hostages before ceasefire.
- Food Crisis: Famine warnings grow as kitchens shutter and aid dwindles.
- Disputed Distribution: U.N. rejects Israeli plan to manage food aid logistics.
Deep Look
Gaza Crisis Deepens as Civilian Deaths Rise and Aid Remains Scarce
Israeli airstrikes across Gaza killed at least 79 people within 24 hours, Gaza’s Health Ministry reported Saturday, with the true number likely higher due to inaccessible hospitals in the north. The victims included nine children of a local pediatrician, marking one of the most personal and devastating civilian tragedies since the war resumed.
Dr. Alaa Najjar, a pediatrician at Nasser Hospital, was on duty when an Israeli airstrike hit her family’s home in Khan Younis. Her husband sustained critical injuries, and their only surviving child, an 11-year-old son, is in grave condition. The dead children ranged from seven months to 12 years old. Two remain missing beneath the rubble.
“This is one of the darkest days for our hospital family,” said Ahmad al-Farra, head of pediatrics at Nasser Hospital. “Alaa ran home to find her world in flames.”
Israel’s military confirmed airstrikes in Khan Younis, claiming it targeted militants operating near its troops. A military statement described the city as a “dangerous war zone,” asserting that civilians had been evacuated prior to the strike. However, the claim of civilian safety remains under review.
Rising Civilian Toll and Mounting Pressure
Saturday’s report brings the total death toll in Gaza to 53,901 since the war began following the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023. More than 3,700 have died since Israel resumed operations on March 18. The Gaza Health Ministry’s figures, which do not distinguish between civilians and combatants, reflect the relentless scale of devastation in the enclave.
That October attack by Hamas left 1,200 Israelis dead and saw 251 taken hostage. Israel has since vowed to maintain pressure until the remaining 58 hostages are freed, though fewer than half are believed to be alive.
Aid Blockade and Famine Concerns
Since March, a sweeping Israeli blockade has choked off humanitarian supplies to over 2 million residents in Gaza. This week, a limited number of aid trucks were allowed in—well below the pre-blockade daily average of 600 trucks.
Severe food insecurity has triggered warnings of famine from global experts. Long queues of malnourished civilians at shrinking charity kitchens have pressured Israel’s allies to demand immediate resumption of full aid access.
Israel’s government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, insists aid logistics be managed by a newly formed U.S.-backed group. The United Nations and its partners have rejected this, warning it would let Israel weaponize food distribution and violate international humanitarian norms.
An internal letter obtained by the Associated Press suggests Israel may now soften its stance by allowing non-food aid to be handled by traditional humanitarian organizations.
While Israel has repeatedly claimed Hamas diverts humanitarian aid, U.N. agencies and humanitarian groups deny widespread diversion and warn that the biggest obstacle to effective distribution is the lack of consistent access and safety.
Hospitals Under Fire
The Gaza Health Ministry reported a dire situation at the European Hospital in southern Gaza, where 11 security staff remain trapped amid heavy bombardment and gunfire since Tuesday. Dr. Saleh Hams, nursing director at the hospital, said patients were evacuated on May 13 after nearby Israeli strikes.
The hospital is one of Gaza’s few remaining facilities capable of treating neurosurgery, cancer, and heart conditions. “These people stayed behind to protect medical equipment from looters. Now their lives are in danger,” said Hams.
Hostage and Ceasefire Deadlock
While Israel insists military action will continue until all hostages are released and Hamas disarmed, Hamas has demanded a lasting ceasefire, full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and a substantial prisoner exchange.
Netanyahu has rejected these terms, instead pushing for continued military control over Gaza and promoting what he refers to as the “voluntary emigration” of much of the Palestinian population—a stance widely criticized as forced displacement.
International Response and Future Risks
The latest escalation underscores the failure of ceasefire negotiations despite recent meetings in Istanbul that led to a large-scale prisoner swap. With nearly 54,000 killed, entire neighborhoods razed, and famine looming, humanitarian groups warn that every hour without peace costs more civilian lives.
As aid organizations call for full access, political pressure continues to mount on Israel to address the growing humanitarian catastrophe and reassess its long-term strategy in Gaza.
Gaza Death Toll Climbs Gaza Death Toll Climbs
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