Emergency workers are digging through the rubble of a residential building in Nuseirat camp, hoping to rescue survivors buried beneath in the aftermath of intense Israeli bombardment. The strikes also hit two homes in Rafah. Injured individuals are recovered and transported to Al-Aqsa Hospital for urgent medical treatment.
A critical shortage of essential equipment remains a challenge for rescuing those trapped beneath the debris of destroyed homes.
In the latest airstrike near Wadi Gaza, Israeli forces killed at least three Palestinians.
Since the start of its war on Gaza on 7 October, Israel has killed at least 34,388 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and wounded 77,437 others.
The Gaza Health Ministry warned of the imminent spread of diseases and epidemics. Sewage overflows, waste piles up in the streets and displaced people’s camps, and the spread of insects have worsened the situation.
The wounds borne by those who have survived the brutality of war are varied. Gunshot wounds often target major blood vessels, leaving victims with crippling disabilities even if they manage to survive the initial assault. Blast injuries, meanwhile, shatter bones beyond repair, frequently necessitating the decision to amputate limbs in a bid to save lives.
A severe lack of medical supplies and essential medications complicates even the most routine procedures.
Gaza faces another silent enemy: scorching temperatures. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs pointed out the sanitation crisis worsened by rising heat.
In Rafah, a baby girl succumbed to the extreme temperatures.
In the occupied West Bank, reports says Israeli forces have besieged a village west of Ramallah. Israeli forces and extremist settlers have been conducting raids across the West Bank, setting fire to homes and vehicles, and terrorising families. The crackdown intensified as Israeli forces arrested at least 20 Palestinians across the occupied West Bank. More than 3,660 Palestinians have been placed under “administrative detention,” allowing Israeli authorities to detain them without charge or trial for renewable intervals of three to six months based on undisclosed evidence, which is inaccessible even to the detainee’s lawyer.
As Israel continues with intense bombardment of Gaza, student protests are taking place in the United States against Israel’s war on Gaza. The protests condemn universities’ ties with Israel, seen by many as complicity in the ongoing mass atrocities.
More than 20 universities in the US are voicing their opposition to Israel’s military actions in Gaza, where the Israeli forces have killed more than 34,000 individuals, and their continued blockade of food aid has caused widespread starvation in the occupied enclave.
These protests are not limited to the US as students worldwide have been showing solidarity with Gaza since the war began on 7 October.
Meanwhile, Hamas has announced receipt of Israel’s official response to its latest proposal for a ceasefire. The group claimed they would carefully scrutinise the document before formulating a reply. Previous negotiations in April centred on a six-week ceasefire and the release of civilian and sick hostages in exchange for Palestinian civilians, including children, held in Israeli jails. Hamas’ statement follows a visit by a high-level Egyptian delegation to Israel, although the direct relationship between Israel’s latest response and the delegation’s visit remains unclear.
Meetings are set to take place in Riyadh on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum. WEF President Borge Brende expresses optimism that discussions will centre on Gaza’s humanitarian crisis. Among the attendees are Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and regional leaders including Qatar’s Prime Minister. Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister, Oman’s crown prince, and Bahraini officials are also slated to participate. Egypt’s foreign minister is expected to provide updates on talks with Israeli negotiators.
