The streets of Shujayea in Gaza City are witnessing an exodus as Palestinian families flee their homes as Israeli tanks move into the neighbourhood. Israeli force have intensified their attacks in the area, causing widespread panic among residents.
Israel has killed 47 Palestinians and wounded 52 others in the past 24 hours alone. The humanitarian crisis continues to deepen, with thousands of missing children feared buried under rubble, as highlighted by UNICEF’s deputy chief in a briefing to the UN Security Council.
Khaled Shakhshir, a volunteer hospital technician at Al-Aqsa Hospital, described the conditions as “unbearable.” Equipment failures, including essential anaesthesia machines, have severely hampered medical efforts. The hospital staff is overwhelmed, struggling to cope with the influx of casualties.
Meanwhile, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has announced “significant progress” in US support for Israel’s military build-up and weapons supply. This development is likely to further intensify the ongoing Israeli attacks and drive up the Palestinian civilian casualties.
Israel, since launching its attacks on Gaza on 7 October, has killed at least 37,765 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and caused injuries to 86,429 others. Dr Mohammed Zaqout, head of Gaza’s hospitals, reported the evacuation of 21 children, coordinated with the WHO and three American charities. However, he emphasised that over 25,000 patients in Gaza require treatment abroad, including 980 children with cancer, many of whom need urgent evacuation.
The evacuation process remains complicated. The route through Karem Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) and into Egypt is not a viable substitute for the Rafah crossing, which has been closed by Israel since early May. Families of evacuated children at Nasser Hospital express concern, as most relatives stay behind, and those accompanying patients remain uncertain about their final destinations.
In response to the increasing incidents of terrorism targeting Palestinians, Canada’s Foreign Ministry has imposed sanctions on seven Israeli settlers and five entities in the occupied West Bank. Foreign Minister Melanie Joly condemned the extremist settler violence, highlighting its significant impact on Palestinian lives and the prospects for lasting peace. This is the second time Ottawa has taken such a step within just over a month. Targets of these sanctions include Ben-Zion Gopstein, founder and leader of the right-wing group Lehava, known for opposing Jewish assimilation with non-Jews.
Turkey’s Ministry of National Defence has called for avoiding actions that could escalate the conflict further. Spokesman Zeki Akturk emphasised the need to end the “massacre in Gaza” and to establish lasting peace, condemning Israeli attacks on refugee camps and schools. Akturk also expressed concerns over regional stability and urged all parties to avoid steps that could lead to a wider conflict.