Intense Israeli Strikes on Gaza Worsen Humanitarian Crisis

29 Oct at 4:23 pm

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Intense Israeli Strikes on Gaza Worsen Humanitarian Crisis \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Israeli airstrikes in northern Gaza on Tuesday killed at least 88 civilians, heightening the humanitarian crisis. Amid escalating violence, Israel has also restricted aid access, impacting UN operations in Gaza. Hezbollah has vowed to continue its resistance following new leadership appointments.

Gaza Crisis Escalates: Quick Looks

Rising Civilian Casualties: Israeli airstrikes in Gaza killed at least 88 people, including women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Expanded Ground Operations: Israel’s intensified attacks focus on eliminating Hamas in northern Gaza, raising regional alarm.
Aid Restrictions Increase: Israel’s new laws cutting ties with UNRWA risk reducing essential aid to Gaza, worsening conditions for Palestinians.
Hezbollah’s New Leadership: Following the death of its leader, Hezbollah appointed Sheikh Naim Kassem, pledging continued resistance against Israel.
Humanitarian Impact: Local hospitals report overwhelming numbers of injured civilians, with aid agencies warning of a humanitarian breakdown.

Deep Look

Intensified Israeli Airstrikes and Mounting Civilian Toll in Gaza

On Tuesday, Israeli airstrikes in the northern Gaza Strip led to at least 88 deaths, including many women and children, Gaza’s Health Ministry reported. This latest attack underscores the intensifying conflict as Israel expands its ground and air operations in Gaza, targeting Hamas militants who, according to Israeli officials, have regrouped in the north after a prolonged conflict. Israel’s increased operations in Gaza’s dense urban areas are drawing urgent international attention due to the escalating humanitarian crisis and the severe impact on Gaza’s civilian population.

Worsening Humanitarian Crisis Amid Aid Restrictions

Amid the intensifying violence, the Israeli government has passed two laws curtailing aid distribution in Gaza. On Monday, Israeli lawmakers voted to sever ties with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), the primary organization supplying food, water, and medical resources to Palestinians. This decision effectively blocks UNRWA from operating on Israeli soil, impacting both Gaza and the occupied West Bank. Given Israel’s control over the borders of Gaza, it remains unclear how UNRWA or other humanitarian groups will manage aid deliveries.

John Fowler, UNRWA’s spokesperson, warned that severing these logistical connections risks unraveling the entire aid operation, adding that UNRWA’s logistical framework supports numerous other international aid organizations in the region. The organization relies on a workforce of thousands to distribute aid, including vital health and nutrition services for Palestinian refugees and displaced families.

Hezbollah Appoints New Leader, Pledges Continued Resistance

Following the death of its leader Hassan Nasrallah in an Israeli airstrike last month, the militant group Hezbollah announced Tuesday that Sheikh Naim Kassem has been elected as the new leader. Hezbollah has continued to launch rockets into Israel since the latest conflict erupted in Gaza and has committed to pursuing Nasrallah’s policies “until victory is achieved.” Shortly after Kassem’s appointment, a missile strike injured eight Austrian soldiers stationed with the U.N. peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, highlighting the rising regional tensions.

The peacekeeping organization, UNIFIL, reported that a rocket likely launched from Hezbollah-controlled areas struck its headquarters. This incident underscores the escalating violence along Israel’s northern borders as Hezbollah’s retaliatory rocket fire and Israeli airstrikes continue to impact civilian and military targets in both Lebanon and Israel.

Heavy Civilian Impact from Airstrikes in Northern Gaza

The first of Tuesday’s airstrikes in Beit Lahiya targeted a five-story residential building, killing at least 70 people and leaving 23 others missing. Most of the victims were women and children, according to Gaza’s emergency services. Another airstrike later in the day resulted in 18 additional deaths, placing further strain on nearby Kamal Adwan Hospital, where waves of wounded civilians arrived for emergency treatment. The facility’s director, Dr. Hossam Abu Safiya, reported that medical resources are becoming stretched as Israel’s intensified military operations continue.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) stated that they are conducting precision strikes to eliminate Hamas militants in Gaza but acknowledge civilian casualties in recent operations. Israel’s expanded campaign in the Jabaliya refugee camp has driven tens of thousands of residents from their homes and has drawn criticism for repeated strikes near shelters and densely populated areas.

Hezbollah Vows Continued Conflict Under New Leadership

Hezbollah’s Shura Council confirmed Sheikh Naim Kassem’s appointment as its new leader. Kassem, 71, has been a founding member of the organization since Israel’s 1982 invasion of Lebanon and has vowed to maintain Hezbollah’s resistance efforts. Following Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel on October 7, Hezbollah resumed rocket fire into Israel, triggering retaliatory strikes and intensifying military action along Israel’s northern border. Iranian support for both Hezbollah and Hamas has added complexity to the regional conflict, as Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon have targeted Hezbollah commanders and installations, further destabilizing the area.

On Tuesday, Hezbollah fired multiple rockets into Israel, killing one person in the northern city of Maalot-Tarshiha, while retaliatory Israeli strikes on the Lebanese city of Sidon killed five people, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry.

UNRWA and International Response to Aid Restrictions

UNRWA and other international agencies expressed deep concern over Israel’s decision to cut ties. While Israel claims that UNRWA is compromised by Hamas and shields its activities, UN officials deny these allegations. Israeli spokesperson David Mencer stated that while aid will continue to reach Gaza, UNRWA’s replacement is necessary to prevent aid diversion by Hamas. Other U.N. agencies have rallied around UNRWA, recognizing it as essential to the world body’s humanitarian operations in Gaza, where millions of refugees rely on its health, education, and emergency relief services.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has highlighted that nearly 25% of UNRWA’s staff are health workers who provide critical immunizations and malnutrition screenings. UNRWA’s operations, according to WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic, are unparalleled in their reach and impact within Gaza, with no other agency equipped to assume its extensive role.

Increasing Regional Casualties and Rising Tensions

Since the start of Israel’s latest operations in Gaza, civilian casualties have risen sharply. Local health authorities report that Israel’s retaliatory operations have claimed over 43,000 Palestinian lives. Israel cites its aim to diminish Hamas’ influence in the region, while approximately 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents face displacement, many having been forced to move multiple times. The United States has warned that further restrictions on humanitarian aid could impact its military support for Israel if the crisis worsens.