ISRAELI STRIKES KILL AT LEAST 16 IN GAZA AS HUMANITARIAN CRISIS DEEPENS
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
At least 16 people were killed on Friday in Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip, according to the territory’s civil defence agency, as Israel intensifies its military campaign following the collapse of a two-month ceasefire.
Mohammed al-Mughayyir, an official with Gaza’s civil defence, told AFP that the deaths occurred in multiple locations across the enclave, with the central and southern regions bearing the brunt of the strikes. Dozens of others were reported injured.
In northern Gaza, Al-Awda Hospital reported that three staff members were wounded when Israeli quadcopter drones allegedly dropped explosives on the facility, raising concerns about the safety of medical workers and infrastructure.
The Israeli military confirmed the latest wave of attacks, stating that its forces targeted “military compounds, weapons storage facilities, and sniper posts” linked to militant groups.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire despite a limited resumption of aid deliveries earlier this week. The United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) reported that 15 of its aid trucks were looted late Thursday night in southern Gaza as they transported supplies to WFP-supported bakeries.
WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain acknowledged that some aid is now reaching civilians but stressed, “it’s moving far too slowly” to meet the escalating needs.
According to COGAT, the Israeli defence body managing civil affairs in Palestinian territories, 107 humanitarian aid trucks entered Gaza on Thursday, the first significant convoy in over two months.
The conflict reignited on March 18, ending a fragile ceasefire and unleashing a renewed wave of violence. Gaza’s health ministry reported Friday that 3,673 people have been killed in the territory since the resumption of hostilities, bringing the total death toll in Gaza to 53,822, mostly civilians since the war began in October 2023.
The war was sparked by a Hamas-led assault on Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures. During the attack, militants took 251 hostages; Israeli authorities believe 57 remain in Gaza, including 34 confirmed dead.
With the civilian toll mounting and aid challenges persisting, international pressure is growing for a renewed ceasefire and sustained humanitarian access to the embattled enclave.
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