Israel assassinates Hamas spokesperson, resulting in multiple deaths in Gaza City
In the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine, the situation in Gaza has taken a turn for the worse.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Sunday that Israel had attacked Abu Obeida, a spokesperson for Hamas' armed wing, but the fate of Abu Obeida remains uncertain. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed the death of Abu Obeida over the weekend.
The violence has resulted in a significant displacement of civilians. According to the United Nations, approximately 65,000 Palestinians have been forced to flee their homes since August 1, with over 23,000 leaving in the past week alone.
The Netzarim Corridor, an Israeli military zone that bisects Gaza, has become increasingly perilous. Witnesses have reported Israeli troops opening fire on crowds in the area, and civilians have been killed while approaching UN convoys or sites run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
The Israeli military has intensified its air attacks in coastal areas of Gaza City, including Rimal. Hospital officials reported 11 more fatalities on Sunday morning from strikes and gunfire. Al-Awda Hospital stated that seven of the casualties were civilians trying to reach aid.
Shifa Hospital, the territory's largest, reported 29 bodies brought to its morgue, including 10 people killed while seeking aid. The ministry, which is part of the Hamas-run government and staffed by medical professionals, reported that at least 63,371 Palestinians have died in Gaza during the war.
The death toll from malnutrition-related causes is 215 since late June when the ministry started to count fatalities among this age category. Another 124 children have died of malnutrition-related causes since the start of the war in October 2023.
More than 90 percent of the 2.1 million Palestinians in Gaza have been displaced at least once during the war. Neither the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation nor the Israeli military responded to questions about Sunday's casualties.
The UN and independent experts consider the ministry the most reliable source on war casualties. Israel disputes the figures but has not provided its own.
UNICEF has conducted infrastructure projects in the Gaza Strip in recent weeks, but aid for Gaza City may be cut back due to ongoing challenges and blockades affecting humanitarian deliveries. The ongoing conflict and the resulting displacement have put a strain on resources, making the situation even more dire for the people of Gaza.
