RAFAH, Gaza Strip. A devastating Israeli airstrike targeted a residential home in the southern Gaza town of Rafah, claiming the lives of 16 individuals, half of whom were children, according to medics who reported the incident early Thursday. The strike is part of an ongoing military campaign in Gaza, where civilians have been urged to seek refuge in designated areas.
Despite international efforts to provide humanitarian aid, concerns arise regarding the distribution of medicines to hostages held by Hamas. As part of a deal brokered by France and Qatar, medicines entered the territory on Wednesday, but there is no confirmation on whether they have reached the dozens of hostages with chronic illnesses.
The conflict, triggered by Hamas’ attack on October 7, has entered its 100th day, with Israel pursuing a goal of dismantling the militant group that has governed Gaza since 2007 and securing the release of numerous captives. This prolonged military campaign has escalated tensions in the region, posing a threat of further conflicts.
The toll on Gaza’s population has been severe, with over 24,000 Palestinians killed, 85% of the 2.3 million residents displaced from their homes, and a quarter of the population facing starvation, as reported by the United Nations. Israeli evacuation orders have led hundreds of thousands to seek shelter in southern Gaza, where UN-run facilities are overwhelmed, and large tent camps have emerged.
Despite the influx of displaced civilians, Israel continues its strikes on what it claims to be militant targets across Gaza, resulting in civilian casualties, including women and children. Dr. Talat Barhoum at Rafah’s el-Najjar Hospital confirmed the death toll from the recent strike, with dozens more reported wounded. Heart-wrenching scenes of grieving relatives were captured in Associated Press footage from the hospital.
Mahmoud Qassim, a relative of some of the victims, expressed the tragic irony of the situation, stating, “They were suffering from hunger, they were dying from hunger, and now they have also been hit.”
Compounding the crisis, Gaza has experienced a five-day outage of internet and mobile services, marking the longest disruption during the conflict, according to the internet access advocacy group NetBlocks. The ongoing communication blackout hampers rescue efforts and complicates obtaining real-time information about the latest strikes and casualties. The situation remains critical, with the international community facing the urgent task of addressing the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza.
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.
