Israel Intensifies Gaza Bombardment Amid Mounting Civilian Casualties and Global Outcry

Israel has dramatically escalated its bombing campaign in Gaza, resulting in the deaths of at least 89 Palestinians in a single 24-hour period. This surge in violence includes at least 15 individuals killed while queuing for food, even as international condemnation intensifies over the recent deaths of six journalists in the besieged territory.

Gaza’s civil defence agency confirmed that Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City have intensified over the past three days, following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security cabinet approving plans to expand military operations. The humanitarian crisis is deepening, with five more people, including two children, reported to have died of starvation. This brings the total hunger-related deaths since October 7, 2023, to 227, including 103 children.

Foreign ministers from 24 countries, including the UK, Australia, France, Spain, and Japan, joined by the EU foreign policy chief, have issued a stark warning that “humanitarian suffering in Gaza has reached unimaginable levels.” They urgently called on the Israeli government to permit immediate aid shipments and ensure essential humanitarian actors can operate, stating, “Urgent action is needed now to halt and reverse starvation.”

The conflict, now nearly two years old, has claimed the lives of 61,599 Palestinians and injured 154,088 since October 7, 2023, according to Gaza’s health ministry. Recent controversial statements by Netanyahu, suggesting Palestinians could “leave” Gaza, have drawn parallels to calls for ethnic cleansing by critics.

The international community has also expressed outrage over the recent Israeli airstrike that killed prominent Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif and four colleagues. The Israel Defense Forces acknowledged the attack, claiming Sharif was a Hamas cell leader – an allegation Al Jazeera and Sharif had previously denied. The Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF) and the Palestinian Center for Human Rights announced their intention to file a joint complaint with the International Criminal Court. UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the deaths and called for an independent investigation, with the head of UNRWA lamenting the continued silencing of voices reporting from Gaza.

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