The humanitarian situation in Gaza has reached alarming levels as new reports indicate that over 120 people have lost their lives in the past two nights due to relentless airstrikes carried out by Israeli forces. Palestinian rescue teams reported on Thursday that the southern city of Khan Younis was particularly hard hit, with 54 casualties recorded overnight following intense shelling. This follows a tragic day on Wednesday when bombings across both northern and southern Gaza resulted in the death of at least 70 individuals. The cumulative death toll from these two harrowing days now stands at 120.

Compounding the crisis, the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza has been completely stalled since March 2. The Israeli government has imposed a blockade, utilizing it as a means to extract concessions from Hamas, the governing body in Gaza. In a statement, Hamas underscored that the restoration of humanitarian assistance is the "minimum requirement" for any negotiations to take place. As the violence escalates, the Israeli military has not provided any immediate comment regarding the airstrikes.

The situation has become increasingly dire, with the Gaza health ministry reporting that 82 bodies have been received by hospitals over the past 24 hours, a grim statistic that includes the 54 victims from Khan Younis alone. This ongoing escalation occurs amidst a sensitive diplomatic backdrop, as US President Donald Trump embarks on a tour of the Middle East, visiting multiple Gulf nations but notably avoiding Israel. His visit has sparked hopes that it may facilitate a ceasefire agreement or the resumption of humanitarian aid to the region, which has now been under an Israeli blockade for nearly three months.

Earlier in the week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to intensify military operations in Gaza, reiterating a commitment to dismantle Hamas entirely. He was quoted as saying, “With great strength to complete the mission,” emphasizing that the ultimate goal is the “destruction of Hamas.” As part of this military campaign, Gaza’s health ministry has also reported the closure of the European Hospital in Khan Younis, which is the only facility in Gaza offering cancer treatments. Its operations have ceased due to severe damage from airstrikes, and the destruction of nearby roads has rendered the hospital inaccessible.

Current assessments from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), a leading authority on global hunger crises, indicate that nearly 500,000 Palestinians are facing the threat of starvation, and almost 1 million are struggling to secure enough food for survival. In a stark contrast, Israeli government spokesperson David Mencer denied any food shortage in Gaza, alleging that Hamas is hoarding supplies. He stated, “They need to open up the food to the people.”

This conflict initially erupted on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants launched a significant incursion into southern Israel, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 individuals. Israel responded with a massive military offensive that has led to the death of over 53,000 Palestinians, as reported by Gaza’s health ministry. The toll continues to rise, with nearly 3,000 fatalities occurring since Israel broke a ceasefire agreement on March 18. Additionally, Hamas is known to be holding 58 of the approximately 250 hostages taken during the October 7 attack, with Israeli officials expressing grave concerns over the welfare of three of these individuals, who are believed to still be alive.