Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza: Death Toll Surpasses 41,000 Amid Ongoing Violence
The humanitarian situation in Gaza has reached catastrophic levels, with the Ministry of Health reporting a staggering death toll of 41,455 martyrs and 95,878 wounded since the onset of the Israeli aggression on October 7. The latest reports indicate that the violence has escalated, leading to three significant massacres against families, resulting in 24 deaths and 60 injuries in just the past 24 hours. Rescue efforts are hampered as many victims remain trapped under rubble and in areas inaccessible to emergency services.
Recent airstrikes have targeted multiple locations, including a school sheltering displaced individuals in the Zeitoun neighborhood, where 22 people, including 13 children and 6 women, lost their lives. Further bombardments at the Kafr Qasim School in the Al-Shati camp resulted in 7 additional deaths, highlighting the indiscriminate nature of the attacks on civilian infrastructure. Reports also indicate that residential buildings in the Tal al-Sultan neighborhood were destroyed, exacerbating the plight of the displaced.
As the situation deteriorates, displaced families face dire conditions, especially with heavy rains flooding makeshift shelters. The United Nations has issued urgent calls for an end to the violence, emphasizing the need for humanitarian workers to access those in need safely. With nearly 2.1 million people in urgent need of food, the risk of famine looms large amid ongoing restrictions on aid access. UN officials report that over 500 attacks on healthcare services have severely crippled the already strained medical infrastructure in Gaza, further complicating the humanitarian response.
