CAIRO. The Gaza Strip has become increasingly overcrowded as thousands of Palestinians, displaced by ongoing conflicts, gather along the seashore. Israeli forces have escalated their offensive against Hamas fighters, focusing their operations in central and southern Gaza. Health officials report that at least 17 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, ceasefire talks in Cairo have yet to yield significant progress on key issues, including the future control of two critical corridors in Gaza. Despite ongoing negotiations, the prospect of a resolution seems distant, leaving many Palestinians trapped in dire conditions.
Israel has issued numerous evacuation orders across Gaza in recent days, marking the highest number since the conflict began 10 months ago. These orders have sparked outrage from Palestinians, the United Nations, and relief organizations due to the shrinking humanitarian zones and the lack of safe areas for civilians.
In Khan Younis and Deir Al-Balah, where most of Gaza’s population is now concentrated, displaced families are forced to live in overcrowded tents along the beach. “Maybe they should bring ships, so next time they order people to leave, we can jump there. People are now on the beach near the seawater,” said Aya, a 30-year-old displaced woman from Gaza City, who now resides in western Deir Al-Balah. “Every day they say talks are progressing, an agreement is close, then all falls like dust. Do negotiators know that every day more families get wiped out by Israeli bombardment? Does the world understand that every day more costs us more lives?” Aya told Reuters via a chat app.
Israeli airstrikes have been relentless, with Palestinian health officials confirming the deaths of nine people in Bureij and Maghazi refugee camps, five in Khan Younis, and three in Rafah. According to Gaza’s health ministry, the war has claimed the lives of over 40,400 Palestinians. The densely populated enclave has been devastated, with its 2.3 million residents facing severe shortages of food and medicine, as reported by humanitarian agencies.
The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants launched an attack on southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli figures.
The humanitarian situation has further deteriorated as United Nations aid operations in Gaza ceased on Monday following new evacuation orders issued by Israel for Deir Al-Balah, where the U.N. operations center was located. The U.N. had been preparing a campaign to vaccinate 640,000 children in Gaza against polio after the disease was detected in the region.
Negotiators in Cairo continue to seek an end to the hostilities and the release of 109 Israeli and foreign hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Despite some optimism from the United States, which is backing the talks alongside Egypt and Qatar, both Israel and Hamas have blamed each other for the lack of progress.
One of the major sticking points is Israel’s demand to maintain control over the Philadelphi corridor on the border with Egypt, a route Israel claims has been used to smuggle weapons into Gaza. Israel is also insisting on checks for people moving between southern and central Gaza through the Netzarim corridor, asserting the need to prevent armed fighters from moving north.
As the conflict drags on, the situation for displaced Palestinians becomes increasingly desperate, with no immediate end in sight.
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.
