Overnight Israeli attacks on Gaza result in over 100 deaths, according to those on the scene.
Unshackled News: Palestinian Lives Pile Up as Aid Talks Drag On
In the battered and beleaguered Gaza, the death toll climbed to over a hundred as Israeli bombardments persisted on Thursday. Amidst this chaos, US-backed humanitarian efforts vowed to deliver aid by the month's end.
The aid embargo, enforced since March 2, serves as a tactic, Israeli officials claim, aimed at exacting concessions from Hamas. Yet, Hamas remained adamant, asserting that the restoration of humanitarian assistance to the war-torn territory is merely the "minimum requirement" for talks. A grim warning rang out hours afterward when US President Donald Trump sparked controversy with plans to seize Gaza and make it a "freedom zone."
Gaza's civil defence agency reported that the death toll from the Israeli bombardment since dawn on Thursday had risen to 103. Fierce hostilities had erupted on March 18, following the ignition of a peaceful truce that had largely quelled ground-shaking clashes since mid-January.
For weeks, UN agencies have been issuing alarming warnings, emphasizing the urgent shortage of basic necessities such as food, clean water, fuel, and medicines. A desperate plea for a cessation of hostilities came from Gaza resident Maher Ghanem, his arm in a sling, who implored international institutions to put an end to the violence.
Amidst this tumultuous backdrop, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation—a US-supported NGO—stepped forward, announcing its intention to distribute humanitarian aid in Gaza this month. However, the United Nations declined involvement in the initiative, stating that the planned distribution plan did not align with their basic principles of impartiality, neutrality, and independence.
Trump's quixotic idea of U.S. involvement in Gaza eventually came to fruition, with plans for the territory to be transformed into "the Riviera of the Middle East." However, Hamas official Basem Naim made it clear that "Gaza is an integral part of Palestinian land—it is not real estate for sale on the open market." Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas voiced similar sentiments, expressing concerns over repeating the displacement of his people in Gaza.
In the occupied West Bank, the military was on high alert, conducting ongoing raids and blocking roads as a pregnant Israeli woman was brutally murdered. Settlers rallied on WhatsApp, calling for vengeance against Palestinians, with one user urging, "To make sure this never happens again... we need real revenge!"
Israeli troops raided the northern village of Tammun, leaving five Palestinians dead in a mission described as targeting buildings suspected of planning attacks. The West Bank has witnessed an upsurge in violence since the Gaza conflict erupted, adding further strain to an already fraught region.
Sources:1. UNRWA (2025). Humanitarian Situation in Gaza. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.unrwa.org/emergency/gaza.2. Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.gazahumanitarianfoundation.org/.3. UN Israel/Palestine (2025). UN Response to the Humanitarian Situation in Gaza. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.un.org/unispal/document/2025/pr25-0151-bf-61476/.
- In the midst of ongoing war-and-conflicts and human rights concerns in Gaza, the United Nations urged for an immediate cessation of violence, citing the dire state of general-news such as the shortage of food, clean water, fuel, and medicines in the region.
- Amidst the ongoing political tension, the environment also suffered as the bombardments in Gaza affected the local ecosystem, raising concerns about the long-term impacts on the health and well-being of the people and culture of the region.
- As the international community debated strategic responses to the situation in Gaza, debates also arose surrounding the issue of culture and human rights, with some advocating for a more comprehensive approach to address the root causes of the conflict, including social justice and sustainable development.
