Israeli attacks on Gaza have killed at least 16 people as its more than two-month lockdown on besieged and bombed enclaves has resulted in acute food shortages, which has exacerbated hunger in the Palestinian population.
The Israeli attack occurred on Wednesday throughout Gaza, with three people killed, several people on strike in a house in Jabalia, north of Gaza, and in a house in Khan Yunis City in the south.
Three other people were killed after Deir El-Balah in the central Gaza Strip attacked the tent shelter. His wife and husband were also killed when they were hit by a house in the village of Bani Suheila, east of the siege.
Gaza civil defense agency said Tuesday night that 31 people were killed and dozens of people were injured after Israel attacked a school of a displaced person in the Bureij refugee camp on Central Avenue.
Since March 2, Israel’s blockade of essential supplies has complicated the intensified attacks, leaving the enclaves withdrew from food and fuel items, as well as flour shortages. The aid team said the food supply was close to total exhaustion.
Mothers of six children at a UN Palestinian Refugee Agency (UNRWA) agency in Gaza told the agency that they had run out of all types of food and only bread was available.
"The State of Israel must cancel the siege," UNRW wrote on X on Wednesday.
It added: “Consistent international efforts must be taken to prevent this humanitarian disaster from reaching new invisible levels.”
Gaza's health sector is also facing the brunt of ongoing attacks and lockdowns, with at least 88% of beds in hospitals occupying a shortage of medical services.
Ceasefire talk
On Wednesday morning, Egypt and Qatar both mediated the first ceasefire agreement with the United States, reaffirming their agreement to end “an unprecedented humanitarian crisis and alleviate civilian suffering by promoting the necessary conditions for achieving a full ceasefire”.
“The two countries stress that disharmonies between brotherly countries (whether through doubt, distortion or media escalation) will not succeed, nor will they prevent the two countries from continuing their joint efforts to end the war, as well as the disasters of humanitarianism,” a shared statement added that these countries are working hard to achieve our efforts.
Although Israel announced a new, more intense military offensive in Gaza unless a ceasefire agreement was reached, Hamas said the negotiations were meaningless.
"As long as the Gaza Strip's hunger and extinction war continues, there is no awareness of negotiations or consideration of a new ceasefire proposal," Hamas official Basem Naim told AFP on Tuesday.