Tragedy Unfolds in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip
In a heartbreaking turn of events in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip — Palestinians seeking refuge in tents or desperate for food aid found themselves caught in the crossfire of Israeli strikes and shootings, resulting in the tragic deaths of at least 25 individuals on Saturday. The world was left reeling as news broke that famine had taken hold of Gaza’s largest city.
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) made a shocking announcement declaring a state of famine, prompting aid organizations and foreign governments to ramp up their calls for Israel to cease its relentless 22-month offensive.
Warnings had been issued by relief agencies for months, highlighting the dire consequences of Israel’s military actions and stringent restrictions on food supplies entering Gaza.
Hospitals in Khan Younis reported a devastating toll, with at least 14 people losing their lives overnight due to Israeli strikes on tents housing displaced families. Shockingly, more than half of the victims were innocent women and children.
Awad Abu Agala, who tragically lost two young relatives in the attack, lamented, “The entire Gaza Strip is being bombed… in the south. In the north. Everywhere.”
In another harrowing incident, health workers at Sheikh Radwan field hospital in northern Gaza witnessed five individuals being shot dead by Israeli forces while awaiting aid near the Zikim crossing. Additionally, six more lives were lost in separate violent episodes as confirmed by hospitals and the Palestinian Red Crescent.
Amidst the chaos, Israel’s military remained silent, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office vehemently denied the famine report, labeling it as “an outright lie.” Netanyahu asserted that sufficient aid had been permitted into Gaza and shifted the blame onto Hamas, accusing the group of deliberately starving hostages.
The IPC report painted a grim picture, revealing that close to half a million Gazans, approximately a quarter of the population, are on the brink of catastrophic hunger, with Gaza City officially declared as a famine-stricken area for the first time. The report cautioned that the situation would only deteriorate without an immediate ceasefire and unrestricted humanitarian assistance.
Amid the escalating crisis, organizations like Doctors Without Borders highlighted the overwhelming strain on clinics in and around Gaza City as civilians scrambled to escape relentless bombardments. Meanwhile, the Israeli military announced preparations for a large-scale operation in the city, citing it as a Hamas stronghold.
Despite efforts to broker a ceasefire, negotiations remain at a standstill. Netanyahu called for urgent talks on the release of hostages held by Hamas, a move that the group indicated it would consider in exchange for an end to the conflict, staunchly rejecting disarmament without the establishment of a Palestinian state. — Agencies
