The ongoing Israeli bombardment has resulted in a significant humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with a staggering number of casualties and injuries reported since the conflict escalated on October 7, 2023.
The combination of military operations and adverse weather conditions has exacerbated the suffering of displaced individuals, highlighting the urgent need for humanitarian assistance and intervention.
The situation in Gaza reflects a broader pattern of conflict-related humanitarian disasters, raising concerns among international observers and aid organizations.
If the current military operations and humanitarian conditions persist, the death toll and number of injuries in Gaza are likely to continue rising.
The combination of winter weather and ongoing conflict may lead to further displacement and health crises among the already vulnerable population in Gaza.
International calls for ceasefire and humanitarian aid may increase as the situation deteriorates, potentially leading to diplomatic efforts to address the crisis.
A Palestinian points to ambulances transporting victims of Israeli bombing of the Gaza Strip (AFP). Dozens of civilians have been killed and injured in Gaza due to the ongoing Israeli bombardment, which has continued for the 53rd day. Al Jazeera's correspondent reported that six Palestinians were killed and others injured, including women and children, in an Israeli raid targeting the home of the Al-Jadba family in the Al-Zarqa area, north of Gaza City. Doctors at the Baptist Hospital described the condition of some of the injured as critical, while rescue teams continue to search for missing individuals under the rubble.
In another incident, at least four Palestinians were killed and others, including children, injured in an Israeli bombardment of the Harb family's home near Sheikh Radwan Lake, west of Gaza City. The injured were transferred to Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital, where some were reported to be in critical condition. Additionally, a woman was killed and several others injured due to Israeli artillery shelling on Kashko Street in the Zeitoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City. The occupation forces have been conducting incursions into the Zeitoun neighborhood for 90 days, marking their sixth ground operation since the onset of hostilities in Gaza.
Medical sources reported that 25 Palestinians were killed in Israeli raids on the Gaza Strip since dawn on Monday. The Ministry of Health in Gaza stated that two massacres against families occurred in the past 24 hours, resulting in 24 martyrs and around 70 wounded. The ministry also indicated that many victims remain trapped under rubble or on the streets, with ambulance crews unable to reach them. The total number of victims since the beginning of the Israeli aggression has risen to 44,235 martyrs and 104,638 injuries since October 7, 2023.
The Israeli occupation forces continue their military operations and siege of northern Gaza, separating these areas from Gaza City. Residents are subjected to aerial and artillery bombardment, particularly in Jabalia camp, Beit Lahia, and the Saftawi area. Appeals for rescue are growing as famine spreads due to the deliberate cutting off of food and medicine supplies since the start of the operation.
In addition to the bombardment, heavy rains have caused significant destruction in Gaza, sweeping away dozens of tents housing displaced individuals in the Al-Mawasi area, west of Khan Yunis. The seawater has left hundreds of families homeless amid ongoing bad weather and a lack of adequate shelter. Louise Waterridge, an emergency officer at UNRWA, highlighted that the people of Gaza, already suffering from severe malnutrition due to the conflict, face heightened risks of disease during the winter. The UN estimates that around half a million people in Gaza are in flood-prone areas that could be inundated with sewage once the rains begin.
