GAZA CITY, July 7, 2024-Gaza's fragile health and humanitarian infrastructure has been pushed to the brink yet again as a series of Israeli strikes over the past 24 hours hit hospitals, shelters, and aid distribution centers, killing at least 40 people according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Gaza Hospital Attacks Leave Dozens Dead
Humanitarian agencies describe the latest bombardment as turning Gaza into a "death trap" for civilians who have nowhere safe to go.
Hospitals Under Siege
Medical officials say Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah was partially evacuated late Saturday after an Israeli strike damaged its emergency department. The World Health Organization (WHO) warned that the continued attacks on or near health facilities are crippling Gaza’s capacity to treat mass casualties.
Hospital administrators reported scenes of chaos as wounded patients were rushed out of damaged wards. “We’re performing surgeries in hallways,” one doctor said, “because the operating rooms are unsafe.”
Israel’s military said its operations target Hamas command infrastructure “hidden in civilian facilities,” a claim rejected by Palestinian authorities who accuse Israel of deliberately targeting medical services.
UN Shelters and Aid Sites Bombed
UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, confirmed multiple of its shelters were hit in Rafah and Khan Younis in the past day. Dozens of displaced families were living in those facilities after being ordered to evacuate from northern Gaza earlier in the war.
Initial reports suggest at least 15 children were among the dead in strikes on UN shelters, with dozens more injured.
A spokesman for UNRWA called the attacks “unconscionable,” warning that their ability to provide food, water, and medical aid has collapsed in much of southern Gaza.
Aid Deliveries Halted Amid Attacks
The World Food Programme (WFP) and other relief groups say distribution of food aid was suspended in parts of Rafah and Khan Younis due to intense shelling.
Videos circulating on social media show destroyed aid trucks and warehouses in flames. Civilians desperate for flour and water were filmed fleeing under artillery fire. “We can’t keep staff alive if they go in,” said one WFP official. “It’s a death trap.”
International organizations warn that with limited border crossings and aid convoys blocked or attacked, Gaza’s humanitarian crisis is spiraling beyond control.
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| UN Shelters Bombed in Israeli Strikes |
Israel’s Justification and Military Goals
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) acknowledged conducting “precision strikes” in Rafah and Khan Younis but claimed they were targeting Hamas military cells, tunnels, and weapons depots embedded in civilian infrastructure.
IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari stated that Hamas “systematically hides behind hospitals, schools, and shelters,” forcing difficult military choices.
However, human rights groups accuse Israel of violating international law by failing to protect civilians.
Civilian Casualties Mount
The Gaza Health Ministry says at least 40 people were killed in the last 24 hours alone in attacks on hospitals, shelters, and aid centers. Over 23,000 people have been killed since October 2023, with the UN estimating that two-thirds are women and children.
Eyewitnesses in Khan Younis described entire families buried in rubble after overnight strikes. “We ran from the north to the south to be safe, and now there’s no safe place,” one survivor told reporters.
International Outcry and Calls for Ceasefire
The United Nations, WHO, and multiple NGOs renewed calls for an immediate ceasefire. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called the attacks on hospitals “intolerable” and warned of “complete health system collapse” in Gaza.
The Biden administration is under increasing domestic and international pressure to halt arms sales to Israel. While the US supports Israel’s right to defend itself, officials have expressed “deep concern” over the mounting civilian toll.
Humanitarian Crisis at Breaking Point
Gaza’s 2.2 million residents face starvation-level food insecurity, almost no clean water, and widespread disease as sanitation systems collapse.
Relief organizations say continued bombardment of hospitals and shelters will make any humanitarian operation impossible. “We are watching a catastrophe unfold in real time,” said Jan Egeland of the Norwegian Refugee Council. “There is no safe zone in Gaza.”
The Way Forward: Ceasefire or Escalation?
Diplomatic efforts continue but with little success. Mediators in Egypt and Qatar have struggled to negotiate even short-term truces.
Analysts warn that as Israel pursues its goal of eliminating Hamas militarily, the humanitarian cost will only grow.
A Humanitarian Crisis Unfolding
The past 24 hours have seen some of the most lethal strikes on Gaza’s remaining shelters and hospitals, reinforcing warnings from aid groups that Gaza has become a “death trap” for civilians. With no ceasefire in sight and aid operations shutting down, the enclave faces an unprecedented humanitarian collapse.
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