ALBAWABA- Israeli forces have intensified their assault on Gaza, killing 105 Palestinians and wounding 356 others in the past 24 hours, according to health officials.
The Israeli military has announced the complete encirclement of Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza and claims to have seized control of 65 percent of the territory.
As the bombardment continues, Gaza's civilian population, particularly its children, is bearing the brunt. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) issued a stark warning, stating that children make up half of Gaza’s 2.4 million residents, and their lives are marked by war and destruction.
Health officials also report a sharp rise in malnutrition and infectious diseases. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus recently stated that 112 Palestinian children are being hospitalized daily due to severe malnutrition, a result of Israel's ongoing blockade.
The situation is further deteriorating, with Gaza's largest hospital, Shifa Medical Complex, losing power due to a lack of fuel. Gaza’s media office warns of the imminent collapse of the entire healthcare system.
The Gaza Ministry of Health has also raised alarms over a spike in suspected meningitis cases, particularly among children under five, the most vulnerable to the disease’s serious complications.
These developments come a day after an ambush by the Qassam Brigades in Beit Hanoun that killed five Israeli soldiers and wounded 14 others, showing continued armed resistance amid the siege.
Meanwhile, international pressure for a ceasefire is growing. French President Emmanuel Macron called for an unconditional ceasefire, saying, “We must show the world there are no double standards.”
His stance was echoed by UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who told Parliament that Britain is prepared to take further measures against Israel if the violence continues: “Yes, we will.”
Indirect ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas resumed Tuesday in Qatar, focusing on a possible framework for a Gaza deal. However, no breakthroughs have been announced.
