Humanitarian crisis deepens in Gaza as intense fighting, hospital strikes claim lives

In the ongoing conflict in Gaza, reports of continuing airstrikes and intense ground battles between Israeli forces and Palestinian fighters have surfaced, particularly in central areas and refugee camps. Tragically, Al-Amal hospital in Khan Younis was hit by airstrikes, resulting in the death of five individuals, including a five-day-old baby.

The attacks on Tuesday targeted dwellings and public buildings, raising concerns about the impact on civilians. Gemma Connell, a team leader from the UN aid coordination office OCHA, expressed her distress in a video, emphasizing the need to protect children, especially in facilities marked with the emblem of humanitarian organizations.

Al-Amal hospital, marked with the logo of the Palestinian Red Crescent, was struck twice, affecting an estimated 14,000 people seeking shelter. UN health agency WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus condemned the strikes, describing them as “unconscionable” and urging an immediate ceasefire.

Dr. Ayadil Saparbekov, WHO Team Lead for Health Emergencies, emphasized the violation of international humanitarian law, stating that the hospital, a protected space, was hit twice during an assessment mission that revealed extensive damage.

The latest update from UN aid coordination office OCHA highlighted heavy Israeli bombardment from air, land, and sea across most of the Gaza Strip, accompanied by continued rocket fire into Israel. Clashes on the ground were reported in Khan Younis and heavy strikes in Gaza City.

OCHA also mentioned reports of multiple fatalities in areas where Palestinians had relocated following Israeli orders. According to Gaza’s health authority, 207 Palestinians were killed and 338 injured from January 1 to 2.

The humanitarian toll of the war is alarming, with at least 22,185 Palestinian fatalities in Gaza between October 7 and January 2. Approximately 70 percent of the victims are believed to be women and children, with up to 7,000 people missing and presumed buried under the rubble.

The Israeli military reported 171 soldiers killed and 983 injured since the start of the ground operation in Gaza, underscoring the high human cost on both sides of the conflict.