Israel Launches Major Offensive in Gaza’s Deir al-Balah Amid Escalating Humanitarian Crisis

Israel has intensified its military operations in Gaza, launching significant air raids and a ground offensive on Deir al-Balah, a critical humanitarian hub in the central part of the devastated Palestinian territory. This latest assault exacerbates an already dire situation, fueling warnings of widespread starvation and further jeopardizing aid efforts.

The offensive follows a particularly deadly incident on Sunday, where at least 85 Palestinians, desperate for food aid, were killed. The World Food Programme (WFP) reported that these casualties occurred when crowds gathered near the Israeli border fence to receive aid were fired upon by Israeli tanks and snipers. Witnesses have described massive airstrikes throughout Deir al-Balah overnight, a region previously spared significant war damage, where Israel suspects Hamas may be holding hostages.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has expressed grave concern, noting that the new evacuation orders for 50,000-80,000 people in Deir al-Balah mean nearly 88% of Gaza is now under such directives. This forces 2.1 million civilians into a fragmented 12% of the strip where essential services have collapsed. OCHA emphasized that Deir al-Balah houses vital aid infrastructure, including warehouses, health clinics, and a key desalination plant, and any damage would have life-threatening consequences.

The deepening humanitarian crisis is underscored by reports from doctors at al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah, who claim that at least 19 people, including children, have died from hunger in the past 24 hours. Hospitals are reportedly unable to provide food or even baby formula, with staff physically unable to work due to extreme hunger. The WFP reiterates that people are dying from lack of assistance and malnutrition is surging, with nearly one in three people going days without food.

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