Crisis Deepens in Gaza As Blockade Strangles Access to Aid
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The northern Gaza Strip remains under relentless bombardment as Israeli forces escalated air and ground operations, leaving scores of civilians trapped under debris and intensifying a humanitarian crisis amid a strict blockade.
Israeli forces targeted at least five homes in Beit Lahiya over the past 24 hours, with dozens of civilians still feared buried under the rubble, according to local reports. The strikes also hit a United Nations shelter school, killing at least nine people, including three journalists and a nine-year-old child.
"We are trying to reach those trapped," said residents, describing the chaos as they attempted to dig through the rubble. "People are crying out, feeling abandoned, and asking for food, water, and medicine."
The siege of northern Gaza, now in its 23rd day, has cut off access to basic necessities such as food and water, with efforts to reach affected areas hampered by military operations in Beit Lahiya, Jabalia, and Beit Hanoon.
An Israeli attack in Beit Lahiya destroyed a residential square, killing more than 45 displaced Palestinians. More than 30 others remain trapped beneath the ruins, while civil defense teams have been unable to mount rescue efforts due to Israeli military restrictions.
The situation remains dire in other parts of Gaza. The Wafa news agency reported that an Israeli drone strike in the southern al-Mawasi area killed one person and injured others, while houses were also destroyed near the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza. On Sunday, at least 53 people were killed in airstrikes across the territory, with 46 fatalities reported in the north.
A bombing at the Asmaa School, located in the Shati refugee camp in northern Gaza, resulted in the deaths of 11 displaced civilians, the Wafa news agency said. The deaths are part of a broader campaign of destruction that has killed thousands since the start of Israel’s military operation.
The Israeli military confirmed ongoing operations in northern Gaza, claiming to have killed dozens of fighters in Jabalia and destroyed underground tunnels and weapons stockpiles. Military forces have also advanced into Rafah in the south, conducting ground operations and striking what they described as militant infrastructure.
Israeli forces continue to bombard residential areas across the Gaza Strip. In the Nuseirat refugee camp, one person was killed and several wounded in an attack on the Abu Amuna family's home, the Wafa news agency reported.
Ground operations also persist in Rafah, despite earlier military statements suggesting the invasion would be limited.
As the conflict deepens, humanitarian conditions across Gaza are rapidly deteriorating.
The Shujayea neighborhood, previously devastated by multiple ground invasions, is now nearly uninhabitable, with over 80% of its population displaced.
Israeli forces are reportedly focusing on rendering civilian areas unlivable by targeting residential buildings, public facilities, and evacuation centers.
Health officials in Gaza report that more than 1,000 people, mostly women and children, have been killed in the 24-day military campaign in the north.
Since the Israeli genocidal war began on October 7, 2023, the Gaza Health Ministry says at least 43,020 Palestinians have died, with 101,110 injured. In the past 48 hours alone, 96 people were killed and 277 wounded.
Amid ongoing Israeli violence, the need for humanitarian aid remains critical as the population grapples with blocked supply routes, destroyed infrastructure, and mounting casualties.