GAZA CITY: Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip killed at least 11 people on Thursday, including five who were seeking aid, while the humanitarian crisis continues to deepen with new deaths from famine and malnutrition. The latest casualties were reported by medical sources in the northern Gaza’s Jabalia an-Nazla area, following intense Israeli operations across the enclave.
Gaza’s Health Ministry reported four new deaths due to “famine and malnutrition” within the past 24 hours, including two children. This brings the total number of hunger-related deaths in the territory to 317, with children accounting for 121 of the fatalities. The report also highlights the dire situation of Gaza’s elderly, with caregivers in nursing homes having little to offer and many patients becoming too weak to move.
UN Security Council Cites ‘Man-Made’ Famine
The humanitarian catastrophe has garnered a rare joint statement from the UN Security Council. On Wednesday, all members of the council, with the notable exception of the United States, jointly endorsed the IPC’s (Integrated Food Security Phase Classification) finding that the famine in Gaza is a “man-made crisis.” This collective warning from the international body comes despite Israel and the U.S. having previously challenged the findings of the report.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military has continued its operations on the ground, with Gaza’s Civil Defence reporting that more than 1,500 homes in the southern part of Gaza City’s Zeitoun neighborhood have been demolished. In the occupied West Bank, a mass arrest campaign has been launched, resulting in the detention of 12 people, including journalists and reform activists, amidst intense raids and home invasions.
Trump Administration Focuses on Post-War Plans
As the conflict rages, U.S. President Donald Trump has held a policy meeting at the White House to discuss Israel’s war in Gaza and plans for the territory’s future. The meeting reportedly included former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and former Trump Middle East envoy Jared Kushner, signaling a focus on long-term governance and humanitarian aid for the post-war period.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, the war has killed at least 62,895 Palestinians and wounded 158,927 since the conflict began. In Israel, 1,139 people were killed and more than 200 were taken captive during the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023.