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Tensions escalate in Gaza as Israeli violations persist, humanitarian crisis deepens

The situation in the Gaza Strip remains tense and deeply precarious weeks after the ceasefire took effect, amid continued Israeli violations and a worsening humanitarian crisis in the besieged enclave.

The Gaza Ministry of Health reported on Tuesday that three Palestinians were killed and one injured over the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of deaths since the ceasefire to 245. Since the war began on October 7, 2023, the overall toll has reached 69,182 killed and 170,694 injured, according to the ministry.

The ministry added that around 6,000 people have undergone amputations, including 25% children and 12.7% women, warning that severe shortages of medical equipment and rehabilitation services are worsening the suffering of the wounded. “These figures reflect a profound humanitarian tragedy that requires urgent action to provide rehabilitation, psychological, and social support—especially for children facing permanent disabilities at a young age,” the statement read.

The Gaza Civil Defense said its teams had transferred 35 unidentified bodies from the yard of Sheikh Radwan Clinic to Al-Shifa Hospital for sampling and coordination with international organizations to assist in identification. After 48 hours, the bodies are to be reburied in the Al-Salib Cemetery in Deir Al-Balah.

The Gaza Government Media Office accused Israel of committing 282 violations of the ceasefire since it came into effect on October 10, resulting in 242 deaths and over 620 injuries. The office described the actions as “a blatant violation of international laws and conventions.”

Amid deteriorating health conditions, UNICEF and the Palestinian Red Crescent Society have launched a mass vaccination campaign targeting children in Gaza City, aiming to prevent the spread of infectious diseases amid severe shortages of medicine and medical supplies. The Red Crescent warned that 80% of Gaza’s water supply is contaminated, with more than 70,000 hepatitis cases recorded since the start of the war.

On the diplomatic front, Jordan’s King Abdullah II, during a meeting in Tokyo with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, urged all parties to uphold the ceasefire and halt unilateral measures against Palestinians in the West Bank and Jerusalem. He also called for increased international support for UNRWA to sustain its humanitarian operations.

In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office denied claims by Yisrael Beiteinu party leader Avigdor Lieberman that Netanyahu had promised US officials to release Hamas fighters trapped in Rafah without cabinet approval. The Prime Minister’s Office described the reports as “false,” adding that no decision had been made regarding the fighters’ fate.

Meanwhile, the Hebrew outlets Shomrim and Yedioth Ahronoth reported that the United States plans to establish a major military base in Gaza’s periphery to host international forces responsible for maintaining the ceasefire, with an estimated budget of $500m.

A Reuters report, citing multiple European and US officials, said efforts to advance US President Donald Trump’s post-war plan for Gaza have stalled, increasing the likelihood of a de facto division of the Strip—one part under Israeli control and the other under Hamas. Officials warned that such a split could persist for years.

Palestinian factions strongly condemned Israel’s approval of a new law authorizing the execution of prisoners. Hamas called the measure “a continuation of Israel’s racist, genocidal policy and a form of collective killing,” while Islamic Jihad described it as “a criminal escalation within a systematic extermination campaign.” The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) said the law represents “a war crime and a fascist attempt to legitimize murder.”

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