Casualties in Gaza Airstrike Highlight Humanitarian Crisis Amid Ceasefire

Despite a ceasefire, an Israeli airstrike in Gaza killed three Palestinians. The humanitarian crisis worsens, with critical shortages of aid, medical supplies, and water. A Hamas delegation is set to negotiate in Cairo, but conditions continue to deteriorate.

On Monday, a drone strike conducted by the Israeli military in central Gaza resulted in the deaths of three Palestinians, despite an existing ceasefire agreement. Local reports indicate that the Wadi Gaza area was specifically targeted, leading to not only these fatalities but also several injuries. Additionally, another Palestinian was killed in a separate strike near the Kuwait Roundabout, situated southeast of the Al-Zaytoun neighborhood. Since the commencement of the Israeli offensive on October 7, 2023, the death toll in Gaza has reached an alarming total of 48,577, with over 112,000 individuals recorded as injured.

This escalation occurs amid a severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, worsened by Israel’s blockade of the Kerem Shalom border crossing, the primary entry point for essential aid and fuel. This blockade has lasted 16 days, crippling the healthcare sector, which is experiencing critical shortages of medical supplies. Moreover, the transport system is in disarray, severely impeding the movement of injured and sick individuals seeking medical attention. The ongoing power shortages have further led to the shutdown of water desalination plants, intensifying the region’s profound water crisis.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) reported that no humanitarian aid has entered Gaza since March 2. UNICEF echoed these concerns, highlighting that approximately one million Palestinian children are facing acute shortages of food and water, which poses a significant risk to their survival.

In parallel developments, a Hamas delegation is expected to arrive in Cairo within the next two days. This visit follows an invitation from Egypt to engage in discussions aimed at possibly extending the ceasefire based on a proposal from U.S. special envoy Amos Hochstein. Despite these efforts for negotiation, conditions within Gaza continue to worsen, casting a shadow over the ongoing humanitarian situation and raising significant concerns.

The recent Israeli airstrike in Gaza, undertaken despite a declared ceasefire, has resulted in additional casualties and heightened the ongoing humanitarian crisis. Restrictions on aid access, critical shortages of medical supplies, and deteriorating living conditions have contributed to an increasingly dire situation for the population, notably impacting vulnerable children. Diplomatic efforts for a ceasefire extension continue; however, the humanitarian situation remains precarious.

Original Source: www.dailynewsegypt.com