CAIRO (AP) — In a tragic development, the Health Ministry of Gaza reported on Saturday that in the past 24 hours, the bodies of 79 individuals who lost their lives due to Israeli airstrikes were brought to various hospitals. This grim tally notably excludes casualties from northern hospitals, which have become inaccessible due to ongoing military actions.

Among the deceased are nine children belonging to a single doctor, a harrowing loss that has resonated deeply within the medical community. Dr. Alaa Najjar, a pediatrician at Nasser Hospital, was on duty when the strikes occurred. Upon hearing the news, she rushed home only to discover her family's house engulfed in flames. Ahmad al-Farra, who heads the pediatric department at the hospital, provided details on the incident, saying that Najjar's husband sustained severe injuries, and their only surviving child, an 11-year-old son, is currently in critical condition following the assault on their home in Khan Younis.

The dead children, tragically, ranged from just 7 months to 12 years old, highlighting the indiscriminate nature of the violence. Khalil Al-Dokran, a spokesperson for Gaza’s Health Ministry, reported that two of the children’s bodies remain trapped under the rubble, an all-too-common scenario in the ongoing conflict.

In response to the mounting death toll, Israel's military issued a statement justifying its actions. The military claimed that the strikes targeted individuals suspected of operating from a structure located adjacent to Israeli forces, characterizing Khan Younis as a “dangerous war zone.” They also asserted that efforts had been made to evacuate civilians from the area, and they are currently reviewing statements regarding civilian casualties.

Earlier on Saturday, Israeli officials noted that their air force had struck more than 100 targets across Gaza within a single day. This latest wave of violence has increased the war’s toll significantly; since the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel, the cumulative death toll has now reached 53,901. The Health Ministry’s records indicate that 3,747 individuals have died in Gaza since Israel resumed its military operations on March 18, as part of a strategy to compel Hamas to agree to different ceasefire terms. The Ministry, however, does not differentiate between combatants and civilians in its casualty counts.

The situation in Gaza has been exacerbated by an ongoing blockade imposed by Israel, which has severely restricted access to essential supplies for the territory's over 2 million residents since early March. This week marked a significant development, as the first aid trucks began to penetrate the territory, delivering much-needed assistance to the Palestinian population, which has been suffering under dire conditions.

According to COGAT, the Israeli defense body responsible for overseeing aid to Gaza, 388 trucks have entered the region since Monday. This figure starkly contrasts with the approximately 600 trucks that were entering daily during the previous ceasefire.

Food security experts have raised alarms about potential famine conditions, emphasizing the images of desperate Palestinians crowding around diminishing charity kitchens for food assistance. In light of this humanitarian crisis, Israel's allies have been pressing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to allow a more substantial flow of aid into Gaza.

In response to international pressure, Netanyahu's administration is attempting to implement a new delivery and distribution system for aid, led by a U.S.-backed group. However, this plan has faced significant pushback from the United Nations and various humanitarian organizations, which argue that the system allows Israel to manipulate food aid as a weapon against the Palestinian populace, violating fundamental humanitarian principles.

Interestingly, a letter acquired by the AP indicates that Israel may be reconsidering its stance by allowing aid organizations to retain control over non-food assistance. Despite accusations from Israel that Hamas is diverting aid, U.N. officials and humanitarian groups have repeatedly denied that there is any significant misappropriation of resources.

The realities on the ground remain grim, with hospitals in Gaza continuing to report attacks and the impacts of Israeli military pressure. The Health Ministry confirmed that 11 security personnel have been trapped at the European Hospital in southern Gaza, enduring heavy gunfire and airstrikes since at least Tuesday. Dr. Saleh Hams, the hospital's nursing director, shared that patients were evacuated following an Israeli strike on May 13, but the security staff voluntarily remained behind to safeguard the facility from looting. This particular hospital is noted as the only one in Gaza capable of performing neurosurgery, cardiac treatments, and cancer care.

Israel has vowed to persist in its military actions against Gaza until Hamas releases all 58 remaining Israeli hostages. It is believed that less than half of the remaining hostages are alive, following the large-scale attack by militants on October 7, which resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities, mostly among civilians, and the abduction of 251 individuals.

Hamas has declared that it will only return the remaining hostages in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners, a comprehensive ceasefire, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Palestinian territories. Netanyahu has staunchly dismissed these terms, insisting on maintaining control over Gaza and facilitating what he describes as the voluntary emigration of a significant portion of the Palestinian population.

As tensions continue to escalate, families of hostages remain desperate for resolution. “The Israeli government and its leader have a clear choice: deal or war, saving lives or abandonment,” stated Liran Berman, brother of hostages Gali and Ziv Berman, during a rally in Tel Aviv where families and supporters gathered to advocate for an agreement that would ensure the safe return of their loved ones.

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AlJoud reported from Beirut.

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