The UN agency for Palestinian refugees reported that Israeli troops had targeted one of its food distribution sites in southern Gaza, resulting in the death of at least a single worker and the injuries of 22 others. The Israeli military confirmed the strike, stating that it was directed at a Hamas commander.
The Israel Defense Forces announced that Muhammad Abu Hasna was killed in the strike on the building in Rafah. They stated that he was involved in managing humanitarian aid distribution to Hamas members.
Hamas Confirms Deputy Police Chief's Death Amid Tensions
Hamas confirmed the passing of Abu Hasna, who had been recognized as the deputy head of police operations in Rafah. This confirmation arrives as tensions in the region continue to rise.
An assault on a distribution center near the Egyptian border was reported by the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). Even though the center's coordinates had been exchanged in advance with Israel and other parties, the attack still occurred, leading to casualties. UNRWA did not provide further details on the incident or reveal the identity of the staff member who was killed, but local human rights groups documented five deaths. Still, The Washington Post has yet to confirm the increased number of casualties.
These attacks took place among a severe hunger crisis affecting Gaza. Relief agencies point to Israel's obstruction of relief supplies as a contributing factor to this crisis. Previous attacks on police units responsible for protecting aid convoys have made trucks and supplies easy targets for criminals and desperate civilians, worsening the humanitarian crisis.
That emphasizes the scale of the situation, the UN expressed the over 576,000 people in Gaza, which is a quarter of its population, who are at risk of famine.
Responding to the crisis, the United Nations introduced a fresh land route for getting essential supplies to northern Gaza following a three-week break. The Israeli government spokesperson, Tal Heinrich, highlighted the efforts to improve aid distribution while avoiding potential interception by Hamas, according to SBS News.
Israel Seeks Alternatives as Tensions Persist
Regardless, tensions continue as Israel accuses UNRWA of maintaining connections with Hamas militants. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is determined to replace UNRWA with alternative agencies to ensure aid delivery remains uninterrupted.
Many countries, including the US and Jordan, have turned to airdrops to provide aid in response to international appeals for greater humanitarian access to Gaza. Furthermore, a pilot project was initiated with a ship transporting 200 tonnes of aid setting sail from Cyprus. The goal is to create a sea route for delivering supplies. Despite these efforts, UN officials stress that access to land remains essential.
The repercussions of the conflict reaches beyond Gaza, as violence intensifies in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The latest occurrences involve a Palestinian teenager fatally stabbing a soldier and a guard at a checkpoint before being shot dead.
Israeli forces engaged in confrontations with Palestinians during operations in Jenin and on the outskirts of Jerusalem, leading to additional casualties.
As tensions persist and humanitarian crises deepen, the need of global cooperation to reduce suffering and prevent conflict escalation grows more pressing, Reuters reported.
