Gaza’s Tragedy Deepens: Airstrikes Claim 87 Lives As Humanitarian Crisis Escalates

Gaza’s health ministry reported that 87 people were killed or are missing under the rubble following an Israeli airstrike on Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza on Saturday. Over 40 others were injured in the attack. The Israeli military said they are reviewing the report, but previously claimed such figures were “exaggerated” without further elaboration. Gaza officials also reported that 73 people had been killed during the airstrikes.

United Nations’ special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, Tor Wennesland, condemned the relentless Israeli strikes in Gaza, highlighting the intensifying “nightmare” for civilians. In a statement, he emphasized the escalating humanitarian crisis, where civilians in northern Gaza have no safe places to seek refuge. Wennesland urged for an end to the conflict, calling for the release of hostages held by Hamas and the protection of civilians.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in the Palestinian territory also raised concerns, stating that insufficient aid is reaching Gaza. They warned that current aid deliveries are inadequate for the scale of the crisis, and criticized the lack of reliable access points for humanitarian supplies. Last week, the U.S. cautioned Israel about potential consequences, including halting weapons transfers, if more humanitarian aid is not allowed into Gaza.

Since Israel’s intensified assault on northern Gaza, aid organizations have reported a significant decrease in the delivery of food and medicine, raising concerns of forced displacement through starvation. Israeli officials deny deliberately blocking aid to the region.