Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 2,308 Palestinians and injured 5,973 others since the ceasefire collapsed on 18 March, Gaza’s health ministry said on Thursday.
According to the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, the dead include 595 children and 308 women, underscoring the mounting humanitarian toll in the enclave, which remains under siege.
Despite grappling with the worst wildfires in Israel’s history, the country’s armed forces pressed on with strikes across Gaza and Syria, claiming the targets were militant elements attacking the Druze minority.
Meanwhile, Israel has appealed to the international community for assistance in battling the wildfires, even as it continues to block aid meant for Palestinian civilians from many of the same donor nations.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has reported that nearly 3,000 trucks filled with humanitarian aid remain stranded at the borders, awaiting clearance to enter the devastated territory.
“But the siege blocking their entry continues,” UNRWA posted on X. “One million children depend on aid, and without it, their lives are in danger. The crossings must reopen, and the siege must be lifted.”
At the United Nations Security Council meeting held at the UN headquarters in New York, several nations condemned Israel’s continued blockade of Gaza and its military aggression.
Ireland, a longstanding supporter of the Palestinian cause, stated, “What we are witnessing on the ground in Gaza and the West Bank is indicative of a complete disregard for international law, the UN Security Council, and the integrity of the United Nations as an institution. More fundamentally, it is an affront to our humanity, and it must end.”
South Africa echoed similar sentiments stating, “There must be accountability for all of the atrocities, the ongoing genocide, violation of human rights and war crimes committed against the Palestinian people.”
Iran, often accused of backing Hamas, demanded accountability at the Security Council, stating, “The Security Council must not stay silent. The main threat to peace and stability in the region comes from the terrorist and destabilising actions of the Israeli regime and its main sponsor, the United States.”
The United States, however, rejected the criticism. “Since Hamas’s egregious terrorist attack on October 7, 2023, this Council has been subjected to constant lies and slanders targeting Israel,” it stated.
Russia, taking its concerns to the International Court of Justice, warned of the broader implications of the conflict.
“Today, we confront the crisis of legality and humanity in light of systematic undermining of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) by Israel and its negligence towards the overall obligations under international law, including those stemming from the status of Israel as an occupying power,” said Maksim Musikhin, speaking on behalf of Russia. “The urgency of this matter cannot be overstated. Gaza balances on the brink of famine. Hospitals lie in ruins.”
Since the outbreak of war on 7 October 2023, the cumulative death toll in Gaza has risen to 52,400, with more than 118,000 wounded, according to the Gaza health ministry.
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