Iruni Kalupahana JadeTimes Staff
I. Kalupahana is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Israel-Gaza War
Rising Casualties Amid Escalating Conflict
Since Monday night, intensified Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip have reportedly led to the deaths of at least 30 Palestinians, according to Palestinian media and health officials. In the northern Gaza town of Beit Lahiya, two houses were damaged in a late night airstrike, resulting in at least 20 casualties, as reported by WAFA and Hamas media.
Palestinian health authorities also confirmed that six more people were killed in Gaza City and Deir Al Balah, while four others died in the central town of Al Zawayda, including at least two children. The total number of casualties in Gaza has reached thousands since the conflict began, with hundreds of children among those killed. This continued loss of civilian life underscores the severity of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in this densely populated territory, where access to emergency services remains severely limited.
Evacuation Orders and Widespread Displacement
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have issued multiple evacuation orders for residents of northern Gaza, urging those still in their homes or in makeshift shelters to head southward to avoid potential danger. Leaflets in Arabic, dropped over Beit Lahiya, advised residents to evacuate to safer areas, as the northern region remains a focal point of Israeli military operations.
This directive adds to the already significant displacement within Gaza, with reports indicating that nearly 1.5 million of Gaza’s 2.4 million residents have been forced to flee their homes at least once. Families are taking refuge in overcrowded UN schools, public buildings, and temporary shelters, where supplies of food, water, and medicine are rapidly depleting. UN agencies and humanitarian organizations have expressed grave concern about the lack of safe spaces and adequate resources for the displaced population, warning of a mounting health crisis as sanitation and shelter conditions continue to deteriorate.
Impact on Humanitarian and Medical Services
Israeli forces have reportedly disrupted critical humanitarian and medical services in northern Gaza for the 14th consecutive day, according to Al Jazeera, severely limiting the availability of emergency aid, electricity, and clean water. Gaza’s civil defense services are struggling to keep up with the increasing needs amid the ongoing hostilities, as hospitals operate beyond capacity and supplies of essential medicines dwindle.
The World Health Organization has called for immediate access to the region, citing severe shortages and the urgent need for medical supplies. The IDF has stated that its operations aim to dismantle terrorist infrastructure and eliminate perceived threats through close quarters combat and aerial strikes. However, verifying casualty numbers and assessing the full impact on infrastructure and civilians is challenging due to limited media access in the conflict zone. This situation has sparked international appeals for a humanitarian corridor to facilitate aid, as the prolonged blockade of Gaza has left its population with dwindling resources and limited access to essential services.
