DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip. Israeli forces on Monday pushed into Deir al-Balah, the only major city in central Gaza that had largely been spared from ground operations during the 21-month war. The move, which came after evacuation orders were issued, appears to be part of a broader strategy to divide the territory through military corridors and intensify pressure on Hamas to release hostages.
The Israeli incursion prompted alarm from the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which said it was “shocked and alarmed,” warning that “the people of Israel will not forgive anyone who knowingly endangered the hostages.” Israel maintains that territorial control is essential to securing hostage releases. Around 50 hostages remain in Gaza, fewer than half of whom are believed to be alive, according to Israeli sources.
Associated Press reporters observed explosions and smoke in areas that had been recently evacuated. A local resident said Israeli pamphlets were dropped at dawn, instructing civilians to leave. Within hours, tanks entered the zone, flattening structures with bulldozers.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that Israeli troops raided its main staff residence in Deir al-Balah, forcing women and children to evacuate on foot. Male staff were reportedly handcuffed, stripped, and interrogated at gunpoint. Two staff members and two family members were detained, with three later released.
WHO also said its main warehouse in the area was damaged by an explosion and fire, disrupting aid operations. Meanwhile, the U.N. confirmed that two of its guesthouses were damaged by shrapnel during reported Israeli airstrikes.
The military did not confirm whether it had ordered the evacuation of aid agencies but said it maintains regular contact with humanitarian groups and helps facilitate relocations when necessary.
Tens of thousands of Palestinians have sought refuge in Deir al-Balah amid repeated displacement across the enclave. According to the U.N., over 87% of Gaza is now either under evacuation orders or designated as Israeli military zones, leaving 2.1 million people confined to just 12% of the territory, where essential services have collapsed.
On the southern front, the Israeli military reported that one soldier was killed and an officer seriously wounded during combat operations.
Meanwhile, the World Food Program (WFP) accused Israeli forces of opening fire on a crowd seeking aid in northern Gaza over the weekend. The WFP said “countless lives” were lost when Israeli tanks and snipers fired at a convoy area. A photojournalist with the AP counted 51 bodies at two hospitals, while Gaza’s Health Ministry reported at least 80 deaths. The Israeli military said it had fired warning shots to address an “immediate threat” and questioned the reported death toll.
The incident is the latest in a series of deadly confrontations involving aid seekers. Hundreds have been killed in recent weeks while attempting to access food and supplies from both U.N. and Israeli-supported aid sites.
The Gaza Health Ministry, operated by the Hamas-run government, estimates that over 59,000 Palestinians have died since the conflict began. While the figures do not differentiate between militants and civilians, the ministry states that more than half of the fatalities are women and children. International organizations, including the U.N., continue to use the ministry’s data as the most reliable source of casualty information.
In a sign of growing global discontent, the United Kingdom, France, and 23 other Western-aligned countries issued a joint statement demanding an immediate end to the war in Gaza and the release of remaining hostages. They also condemned Israel’s ongoing restrictions on humanitarian aid.
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.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
