KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip. Israel intensified airstrikes in Gaza on Thursday, with a focus on the southern region where Palestinians were urged to seek shelter. Israel’s defense minister ordered ground troops to prepare for potential invasion, though a specific timeline was not provided.
Gaza’s hospitals, already overwhelmed, struggled to make their limited medical supplies and generator fuel last. Aid from Egypt was being coordinated to address the dire situation. Doctors had to work in darkened wards, using mobile phone lights and vinegar to treat infected wounds.
A U.S. intelligence assessment presented to Congress estimated that the recent explosion at a Gaza City hospital resulted in a death toll between 100 and 300, which, while significant, was on the “low end.” The cause of the explosion remains disputed, with U.S. intelligence officials agreeing with earlier statements that it was not caused by an Israeli airstrike.
Tensions escalated with Palestinian militants firing rockets into Israel from Gaza and Lebanon, while violence erupted in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
Israel’s Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, in a passionate address to Israeli infantry troops stationed at the Gaza border, urged them to prepare for potential action. Israel had amassed tens of thousands of troops along the border, raising concerns about a ground assault.
The situation in Gaza remained dire, with many residents facing food and water shortages and a lack of medical supplies. Egypt and Israel were in negotiations to deliver fuel to hospitals in Gaza, while the first aid trucks were expected to arrive soon.
Amid these challenging circumstances, conditions at Gaza’s second-largest hospital, Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, worsened further as power outages became widespread. Patients in critical condition were left without ventilators due to a shortage.
The Gaza Health Ministry implored gas stations to supply fuel to hospitals, and a U.N. agency allocated its remaining fuel reserves to medical centers.
The situation in Gaza continued to deteriorate, with thousands killed and injured, and many more missing under the rubble. In Israel, over a million Palestinians had fled their homes, leading to the emergence of a major tent camp for displaced people, a sight not seen since 1967.
The agreement to deliver aid through the Rafah border crossing remained delicate, with strict conditions set by Israel to ensure aid goes only to civilians in southern Gaza.
Israel’s decision to allow aid from Egypt followed a request from President Joe Biden after intense discussions with U.S. officials. U.S. diplomats expressed concerns over Israeli intentions to deny basic necessities to Gaza, and Israeli officials made comparisons to past conflicts.
The situation remained highly volatile, with ongoing violence and uncertainty in both Gaza and the surrounding regions.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
