At least 35 Palestinians lost their lives and over 100 were injured on Wednesday, as Israeli airstrikes intensified across the Gaza Strip, exacerbating an already devastating humanitarian crisis.
Children Among Victims of Nuseirat Camp Airstrike
In the early hours, Israeli jets bombarded three homes in the overcrowded Nuseirat refugee camp, located in central Gaza. The attacks resulted in the deaths of at least 12 civilians, including three children. Hospital staff reported that two of the children were siblings, with their remains arriving at the morgue in pieces.
Since March 18, Israel has resumed daily bombings across Gaza, hitting homes, public shelters, and civilian infrastructure. The blockade of Gaza has now entered its second month, cutting off over 2 million residents from food, water, fuel, and medical aid.
UN: Gaza Aid Could Be Gone Within Days
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned that the last reserves of critical supplies will be depleted in the coming days. Their stock of emergency shelter kits—without tents—is nearly exhausted. Similarly, the UN Population Fund announced it has run out of hygiene products, sanitary supplies, and materials for women and girls.
Hospitals are overwhelmed, with only seven facilities and four temporary clinics still able to provide maternal and newborn care. Health workers report a surge in malnourished pregnant women and an alarming increase in underweight births.
Starvation Threat Looms Over Gaza
Across Gaza, charity kitchens are the only food source for thousands. In Deir al-Balah and Nuseirat, families crowd into distribution lines, desperate for a single meal. On Wednesday, one kitchen could only serve lentils, while another offered thin pasta with tomato sauce.
Wafaa, a displaced woman in Nuseirat, said: “There is starvation. No food, no water. If the kitchens shut down, it will be catastrophic.”
Humanitarian workers like Abu Hamza Fawaz confirm that without fresh supplies and fuel, their kitchen will close in days. Ahmed Yassin, another aid worker, noted that many smaller kitchens have already shut, leaving communities dependent on just a few large centers.
Background of the Conflict
The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on southern Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people, most of them civilians. Hamas also took 251 hostages; Israel believes only 24 of the remaining 59 hostages are still alive.
In response, Israel launched a large-scale offensive that has, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, killed over 52,400 Palestinians, the majority believed to be women and children. The Israeli military reports that 850 of its soldiers have died since the conflict began.
UN Accuses Israel of Using Starvation as a Weapon
While Israel states that the blockade is intended to pressure Hamas into releasing hostages, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights warned this week that using starvation as a method of warfare violates international law and could amount to a war crime.