Gaza City is struck by Israeli bombing; military reports four fallen soldiers
In the ongoing conflict in Gaza, the World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed concern over the military incursion and evacuation orders in northern Gaza, which are driving new waves of displacement and forcing traumatized families into an area unfit for human dignity.
The crisis has sparked international outrage, with Jordan condemning the attack, stating it jeopardizes the delivery of aid. The Israeli military later called for aid from Jordan to be halted.
Hospitals in Gaza City, including Al-Shifa Hospital, are overwhelmed and on the brink of collapse due to the escalating violence. The offensive in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, most of them civilians, and Israel's retaliatory campaign has killed at least 65,141 people, also mostly civilians.
The US-backed offensive on Gaza City began on Tuesday, with ongoing artillery fire, air strikes, quadcopter, and drone gunfire in Gaza. The Israeli military continues to target "Hamas terror infrastructure" and is operating in the southern areas of Rafah and Khan Yunis. Hamas's armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, has warned the military to expect fierce fighting and has prepared an army of martyrs.
Gazans are leaving their homes in large numbers, heading south on foot, in vehicles, and on donkey carts. The cost of a ride to the south has soared, with some cases reaching $1,000. The United Nations estimated that about one million people were living in Gaza City and its surroundings, and Israel says 350,000 of them have fled.
Shadi Jawad, a 47-year-old man, describes the difficult ordeal of fleeing his home and the chaotic situation in Gaza City. Aya Ahmed, a 32-year-old woman, is sheltering with 13 relatives in Gaza City and expresses concern about evacuating south due to lack of resources.
Israel has rejected the findings of a United Nations probe that accused Israel of committing "genocide" in the Gaza Strip, saying Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior officials had incited the crime. The foreign ministry of Jordan stated that the attack was the result of the echoing of Hamas's campaign of lies.
The offensive in Gaza comes ahead of a planned move by several Western countries to recognize a Palestinian state at the UN. In the coming days, France, the United Kingdom, Malta, Canada, Portugal, Australia, Belgium, and Luxembourg plan to submit applications at the United Nations to recognize the State of Palestine officially during the UN General Assembly in September 2025.
The crisis has also seen tragic incidents outside of Gaza. A Jordanian aid truck driver shot dead two Israelis at the Allenby crossing between the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Jordan. Four Israeli soldiers were killed using an explosive device in Rafah, southern Gaza, on Thursday.
Israeli military conducted strikes on Hezbollah sites in south Lebanon, adding another layer of complexity to the ongoing conflict. The situation in Gaza remains volatile and uncertain, with no end to the violence in sight.
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