Israel's military targets emergency aid workers in Gaza City, while simultaneously assaulting the city and striking the al-Shifa and Al-Aqsa hospitals within the enclave.
In the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the situation in Gaza City, particularly the residential neighbourhood of Zeitoun, has deteriorated significantly. As of August 2025, intense Israeli bombardments and ground operations have resumed, following the breakdown of a ceasefire in March 2022.
The Israeli military's campaign, which aims for a full-scale takeover of Gaza City and eventually the Gaza Strip, has been met with strong international condemnation due to the massive humanitarian toll and legal implications under international law.
Key recent developments include the abrupt ending of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in March 2022, followed by surprise airstrikes by Israel, citing Hamas's refusal to release hostages and rejecting ceasefire extensions. This military push has led to devastating consequences, with tens of thousands of fatalities and injuries, widespread destruction, and massive displacement.
According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health and UN reports, at least 61,722 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed, with 154,525 wounded since October 2023. Children, women, and the elderly constitute a significant portion of the casualties.
The United Nations’ highest human rights official, Volker Türk, has strongly condemned Israel's plan to militarily seize Gaza City and the entire Gaza Strip, calling for an immediate halt to prevent further atrocities, massive forced displacement, and large-scale suffering. He emphasized the need for Israel to facilitate unhindered humanitarian aid access and urged the release of all hostages held by Palestinian groups and Palestinians detained by Israel.
Residents of the eastern neighbourhood of Zeitoun have been told to leave as hundreds of homes have been destroyed. Attacks by the Israeli military have resulted in the death of 44 people, including 16 aid seekers, and the destruction of two hospitals in Gaza.
The UN stresses that ongoing escalation undermines prospects for peace and violates international law. Criticism of the Israeli military's actions has come from families of captives held in Gaza, the Israeli security establishment, and a multitude of nations and organizations around the world.
In the current heatwave, with record temperatures surpassing 40C (or 104F), people in Gaza are enduring severe dehydration, resorting to drinking contaminated water. The UN states that Gaza requires the equivalent of at least 600 trucks of aid entering daily to fight off the effects of man-made starvation caused by months of total Israeli blockade.
Despite these challenges, international and Palestinian groups are reporting that only one-sixth of the necessary 600 trucks a day are actually entering the territory. Emergency vehicles have been fired upon by the Israeli army while trying to reach the wounded in Zeitoun.
In summary, the situation in Gaza, including the Zeitoun neighbourhood, is dire due to resumed large-scale Israeli military operations aiming to capture Gaza City, resulting in heavy casualties and humanitarian crises, amid international calls to halt military advances and prioritize humanitarian relief.
- The Israeli military's current campaign in Gaza City, aimed at a full-scale takeover, has garnered strong criticism for its humanitarian toll and legal implications under international law.
- Recent developments in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, like the sudden resumption of war in August 2025 and the ending of a ceasefire in March 2022, have resulted in devastating consequences such as mass fatalities and injuries, widespread destruction, and massive displacement.
- The United Nations and Gaza’s Ministry of Health have reported at least 61,722 Palestinians killed and 154,525 injured since October 2023, with children, women, and the elderly making up a significant portion of the casualties.
- International human rights officials, including Volker Türk, have called for an immediate halt to Israel's military actions in Gaza City and the Gaza Strip to prevent further atrocities, massive displacement, and large-scale suffering.
- Amid the ongoing heatwave and a total Israeli blockade, people in Gaza are suffering from acute dehydration, resorting to contaminated water, and are in dire need of humanitarian aid, with only one-sixth of the necessary aid trucks entering the territory daily.
