At least 61 Palestinians were killed on Wednesday as Israel intensified its bombardment of the Gaza Strip, targeting civilian areas including a restaurant and a UN-run school. The strikes come as Gaza endures an escalating starvation crisis under a blockade that has lasted more than two months.
A reconnaissance drone attack hit the al-Wehda Street area in Gaza City, killing 17 people near the Thai and Palmyra restaurants. A separate strike on al-Karama School in the Tuffah neighbourhood claimed 13 more lives. Other strikes across Gaza killed families sheltering in homes and tents in Jabalia, Khan Younis, Deir el-Balah, and Bani Suheila.
Blockade Threatens Mass Starvation
Since March 2, Israel has blocked the entry of food, fuel, and medical supplies, leading to widespread hunger and the collapse of basic services. According to Al Jazeera, food supplies are nearly depleted, and aid groups are halting operations.
World Central Kitchen (WCK) announced it had stopped operations in Gaza after running out of supplies. The group had served more than 130 million meals and 26 million loaves of bread before halting relief efforts. UNRWA warned that entire families now survive on bread alone.
Health and Infrastructure Collapse
With 88% of hospital beds full and medical supplies critically low, Gaza’s health sector is on the brink. Amid the chaos, civilians have attempted to plant their own food but face bombardment even during agricultural work, as seen in Khan Younis where a farmer was killed while harvesting crops.
Ceasefire Talks Falter
Egypt and Qatar have reaffirmed efforts to reach a ceasefire, backed by the United States. However, Israeli officials threaten further escalation unless Hamas agrees to terms. Hamas, meanwhile, has rejected the negotiations, calling them meaningless under the current “hunger and extermination war.”
A joint Egyptian-Qatari statement emphasized that attempts to derail peace efforts “will not succeed,” and stressed the urgent need to address the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.
International Response
Global humanitarian organizations and UN agencies are urging Israel to lift the siege immediately to prevent famine. However, continued military activity and political deadlock threaten to plunge the region into further instability and suffering.
Calls for urgent international intervention are growing, as the world watches a humanitarian disaster unfold in real-time.
Sources: Al Jazeera, UNRWA, World Central Kitchen
