Israel has stepped up its assault on Gaza’s largest city, where heavy bombardments and forced starvation have already killed more than 62,000 Palestinians since the war began nearly two years ago, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Airstrikes and artillery fire intensified across Gaza City on Monday, leaving at least 30 more Palestinians dead. Among them were 14 people hit while trying to collect food aid and journalist Islam al-Koumi, killed in an airstrike on the al-Sabra neighbourhood. Entire families are being displaced as residential blocks collapse, while many remain trapped due to poverty or fear.
Al Jazeera correspondent Tareq Abu Azzoum described the scene as “extremely overwhelming,” saying Israeli forces were using fighter jets, drones, and heavy artillery to destroy what little remains of civilian homes.
Displacement has left thousands without shelter, with many saying it is impossible to move south. Displaced resident Bilal Abu Sitta explained he would need nearly $900 to relocate, a sum he does not have. Others refuse to leave, fearing Israeli claims of safe zones. “We don’t want Israel to give us anything,” said Noaman Hamad. “We want to go back to the homes we fled.”
Healthcare centres in Gaza City have also been hit, worsening the humanitarian crisis as families shelter in damaged buildings, makeshift tents, and overcrowded classrooms.
The health ministry confirmed that five more people, including two children, died from malnutrition in the past 24 hours. This brings the total deaths from starvation to 263, including 112 children. The World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that more than 320,000 children under five in Gaza are at risk of acute malnutrition, with families surviving on little more than bread and water. UNRWA reported that instead of preparing for school, Gaza’s children are queuing for food, searching for clean water, and struggling to survive in shelters.
Amid the devastation, there is a faint sign of hope. Hamas said it has agreed to a ceasefire proposal brokered by Qatar and Egypt. Sources say the draft includes a 60-day truce, the release of half the Israeli captives held in Gaza, and freedom for an unspecified number of Palestinians jailed in Israel.
