Israel escalated its military operations around Gaza City on Friday, ending previous pauses that allowed aid deliveries. The Israeli army aims to take full control of Gaza Strip, beginning with Gaza City. This move has drawn global criticism due to worsening starvation in the enclave. Civilians have been urged to move south to avoid the fighting. The military confirmed heavy strikes and intense operations near Gaza City.
Meanwhile, Gaza’s humanitarian situation is dire. The Gaza Health Ministry reported that five people, including two children, died from starvation in the past 24 hours. Additionally, Israeli attacks killed 48 people on Friday. The United Nations and aid groups have declared famine conditions in Gaza. The blockade has caused severe shortages of food, water, and medicine, worsening the crisis daily.
Israel announced 10-hour daily pauses in fighting across Gaza after international pressure. However, these pauses no longer apply to Gaza City, a declared “dangerous combat zone.” Israeli forces have continued to intensify strikes, aiming to weaken Hamas fighters. The military also claimed to have killed Muhammad Abd al-Aziz Abu Zubaida, described as Gaza’s top ISIS leader.
In a recent development, Israeli forces recovered the body of Ilan Weiss, a hostage taken by Hamas in 2023. Weiss was a member of an emergency response team kidnapped during the initial Hamas attack on October 7. The military confirmed his death occurred on December 3, 2023. This recovery highlights the ongoing toll of the conflict on both sides.
Overall, the conflict has killed over 63,000 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to local health officials. Of these, 322 deaths resulted from starvation since the war began. The situation remains volatile, and humanitarian agencies warn the crisis could deepen without urgent international intervention. The global community continues to call for peace and aid access to save lives.