The Israeli government and military are planning to expand their ground operations in Gaza, as the humanitarian crisis worsens. At least 13 Palestinians, including women and children, have been killed in the past 24 hours due to escalating military actions.
Israeli airstrikes on Sunday targeted various locations within Gaza. Among the victims were three people killed by a drone strike on a vehicle and two others from a bombing near residential towers in southern Gaza. Additionally, artillery fire in Gaza City’s Zeitoun neighborhood killed two, and another body was found near Bureij refugee camp after previous air raids. The Israeli military also attacked the Islamic University building in Khan Younis.
Read more: Israeli Airstrikes Target Gaza Hospitals
These attacks come as Gaza’s 2.3 million residents face severe shortages of essential resources like food, water, medicine, and fuel. Humanitarian conditions are worsening, with charity kitchens shutting down due to lack of supplies. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) warned of “irreversible harm” as the blockade enters its 70th day, stating that their teams are ready to scale up aid delivery but have not been able to do so.
Hamas has accused Israel of committing a “complex crime” amid the growing humanitarian toll. Israel’s security cabinet recently approved a plan to fully occupy Gaza and establish military zones to control aid distribution. The UN’s Humanitarian Country Team has criticized the plan, calling it a violation of humanitarian principles.
Israel has also backed a new aid distribution plan led by U.S. security contractors, bypassing traditional UN and NGO channels. This plan would create four distribution points in southern Gaza, raising concerns over its accessibility to many Palestinians.
Gaza’s Ministry of Health reports that over 52,800 Palestinians have been killed and more than 119,000 injured since Israel began its military response to the October 7 Hamas attacks, which resulted in 1,139 Israeli deaths and more than 200 captives taken into Gaza.
Pope Leo XIV, in his first Sunday blessing, called for a ceasefire, the release of captives, and unhindered humanitarian access to Gaza. Meanwhile, Israel is redeploying troops from other regions, including Syria and the Golan Heights, to intensify its Gaza campaign.
The Israeli government also approved a benefit package for reservists worth 3 billion shekels ($838 million) in response to growing dissatisfaction.
In other news, U.S. President Donald Trump is set to begin a Middle East tour this week amid tensions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the Gaza war.
