Gaza under Israeli siege as death toll mounts, famine looms

Daily News Egypt

19 hours ago

At least 51 Palestinians were killed in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, including 16 people waiting for aid, as Israel's military offensive entered its 106th day. The humanitarian crisis continues to spiral, with warnings of an imminent healthcare system collapse and a rapidly accelerating risk of famine, even as diplomatic efforts to broker a ceasefire persist.
According to Gaza's Health Ministry, the death toll since October 7 has reached 56,647, with 134,105 wounded. In the past 24 hours alone, 116 people were killed and 463 injured.
Amid the mounting casualties, the Al-Shifa Medical Complex announced a complete shutdown of kidney dialysis services due to fuel shortages, while intensive care units are now operating only a few hours a day. The World Health Organization (WHO) warned that repeated strikes near hospitals are pushing already overwhelmed facilities to the brink of collapse.
Fierce fighting continued in Khan Younis, where Saraya al-Quds, the armed wing of Islamic Jihad, claimed a joint operation with Hamas's Qassam Brigades destroyed an Israeli Merkava tank and a military vehicle in the Abasan al-Kabira area.
In the occupied West Bank, Israeli forces killed two Palestinians in Hebron and Ramallah, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. Meanwhile, tensions flared in Jerusalem, as dozens of Israeli settlers, under heavy police protection, entered the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Diplomatic efforts continued, with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani speaking by phone with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Atty to discuss coordination with the United States on a potential ceasefire and the urgent need to restore humanitarian aid flows. The talks also addressed the release of hostages and detainees on both sides.
Despite mediation efforts, Israel has kept Gaza's crossings sealed since March 2, blocking the flow of life-saving aid. The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) warned that 'hunger is being used as a weapon,' and described the new Israeli-American aid delivery mechanism as 'a death trap.' The agency said civilians are being killed while searching for food and warned that forced displacement has become a death sentence.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reported that approximately 112 children per day are being admitted to Gaza hospitals for malnutrition, underscoring the escalating humanitarian emergency.
The World Food Programme (WFP) echoed those concerns, stating the window to avert famine is 'closing fast,' with only a few dozen aid trucks entering the enclave daily—far short of the 500 trucks needed to meet minimum food and medical needs.
US President Donald Trump announced that he will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu next week at the White House to discuss the situation in Gaza and Iran.
'We want to get the hostages back from Gaza,' Trump said, adding that the talks will address 'many issues, including the tremendous success we've had on Iran.'
Netanyahu confirmed the upcoming meeting, noting discussions would cover regional developments and a potential trade agreement.
In Madrid, Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares reiterated his country's call for a permanent ceasefire, the unimpeded delivery of aid, and the two-state solution. Speaking to Al Jazeera, he said Spain's recent recognition of the State of Palestine is rooted in 'justice for the Palestinian people', while affirming Israel's right to defend itself against terrorism.
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) issued a strong condemnation of what it called Israel's escalating 'genocidal acts, starvation, and destruction,' citing a massacre on Monday that killed more than 85 people. The OIC labelled the violence war crimes and crimes against humanity, calling for urgent international action to secure a ceasefire, lift the blockade, and ensure protection for Palestinian civilians.