There are signs that a ground invasion into the southern section of Gaza may not be far off, given that Israeli commanders have proclaimed sovereignty over the northern portion of the territory, including Gaza City.
Four towns east of Khan Younis, the biggest city in southern Gaza, received leaflets on Wednesday informing residents to “head towards known shelters.” However, the crowded community has few remaining secure spots.
Humanitarian organizations warned that any Israeli incursion into Gaza’s southern region could exacerbate the already dire situation.
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) said in a statement on Thursday that Gazans are facing the “immediate possibility of starvation” as fuel shortages impair food production and distribution within the beleaguered enclave.
According to Philippe Lazzarini, head of UNRWA (the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East), fuel shortages are also causing a “total communication blackout” in Gaza. Additionally, note the following: Tunnel entrance: On Thursday, the Israeli army verified reports that it had discovered a “tunnel shaft” on the grounds of the Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza with a video. The government media office headed by Hamas refuted Israeli assertions that it was utilizing the hospital as a command and control center, labeling them as “baseless lies.” Following an early-morning military attack by Israeli soldiers on Wednesday, the hospital has turned into a focal point for combat. “Children are starving:”
On Thursday, the Gaza Strip’s Al-Shifa Hospital’s director gave an account of the facility’s deteriorating state. In a phone conversation with Al-Jazeera Arabic, Mohammad Abu Salmiya claimed that the facility, which serves as a shelter for over 650 injured individuals, 36 premature newborns, 45 kidney patients, and 5,000 displaced persons, had left displaced children without any milk or water. Staff are being forced to make “harrowing” decisions due to a shortage of medical supplies, according to Abu Salmiyah. Captured by gunshots: In the meantime, the Palestine Red Crescent Society released a statement on Thursday stating that due to the fierce fighting in the region, medical staff at Gaza City’s Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital claim they are unable to treat injured patients outdoors.