Over 60 killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza as aid remains scarce
AP:
At least 60 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, as Israel continued its military campaign and allowed only limited humanitarian aid into the area.
The fatalities included 10 in Khan Younis in the south, four in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, and nine in the Jabaliya refugee camp in the north, according to reports from Nasser, Al-Aqsa, and Al-Ahli hospitals.
Israel is facing increasing global condemnation over its continued offensive and the worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza, which has been under near-total blockade for almost three months. Experts warn that many of the two million residents face imminent famine. Even the United States, Israel’s key ally, has voiced alarm about the hunger crisis.
The latest airstrikes extended into Friday, just a day after Israeli forces targeted a hospital in northern Gaza with tanks and drones, causing fires and widespread destruction, according to Palestinian health officials. Video from Al-Awda Hospital showed destroyed walls and thick black smoke.
Israel has pledged to continue its operations until Hamas surrenders and releases the remaining 58 Israeli hostages. Fewer than half of those hostages are believed to still be alive.
Washington Attack Linked to Gaza Conflict
The Gaza violence coincides with a deadly incident in Washington, D.C., where two Israeli Embassy staffers were fatally shot after attending an event. The suspect, who claimed the act was “for Palestine,” has been charged with murder.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the attack and criticized France, the UK, and Canada for backing the idea of a Palestinian state, arguing their stance implicitly supports Hamas.
Minimal Aid Flows In, U.N. Says It’s Not Enough
In response to growing pressure, Israel allowed over 100 aid trucks into Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing on Friday, carrying essentials like flour, food, and medical supplies. However, the U.N. called the volume inadequate compared to the 600 daily trucks needed during previous ceasefires.
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres criticized Israel for offering only “a teaspoon of aid when a flood is needed,” noting that no aid has yet reached northern Gaza. Distribution is hampered by Israeli military restrictions and security issues within Gaza.
At a charity kitchen in Khan Younis, desperate residents lined up with empty containers, hoping for a portion of lentil soup. Displaced mother Halima Abu Amra said her injured daughter survives on discarded, soaked bread, while her younger children eat only soup.
The World Food Program reported that 15 of its aid trucks were looted in southern Gaza on Thursday night, citing growing desperation and lawlessness.
Israel says the current aid is temporary until a new U.S.-backed initiative begins. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a private organization, is expected to manage future aid efforts, using armed contractors for security. Israel claims the move is necessary to prevent Hamas from diverting aid.
The U.N. has rejected this plan, arguing that it undermines international law and humanitarian standards. Guterres stated that the U.N. already has the capacity to deliver aid via 9,000 trucks.
Meanwhile, a Geneva-based advocacy group has initiated legal proceedings to push Swiss authorities to oversee the GHF, which is registered in Switzerland. The foundation insists it operates independently and within humanitarian guidelines.
Ceasefire Talks Stalled
Ceasefire negotiations in Doha have hit a deadlock. Prime Minister Netanyahu withdrew his top negotiating team, citing lack of progress. A smaller team remains in place.
Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said the two sides remain far apart. Hamas accused Netanyahu of pretending to negotiate in bad faith.
The war began with a Hamas-led assault on southern Israel that killed about 1,200 people and led to the abduction of 251. In response, Israel launched a devastating campaign in Gaza, which has since claimed over 53,000 Palestinian lives, primarily women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Rising West Bank Violence
The conflict has also escalated violence in the occupied West Bank. In Bruqin, Israeli settlers reportedly attacked Palestinian residents on Thursday, torching vehicles and damaging homes. The U.N. confirmed that eight people were injured, mostly while trying to put out fires.