Rafah Crossing 'never been closed for one day' from Egypt: PM    Egypt will keep pushing for Gaza peace, aid: PM    Remittances from Egyptians abroad surge 70% YoY in July–May: CBE    Sudan's ambassador to Egypt holds reconstruction talks on with Arab League    Egypt's current account gap narrows, but overall BoP records deficit    Al-Sisi urges accelerated oil, gas discoveries, lower import bill    SCZONE signs $52.6m textile industry deals during China investment tour    Egypt hosts international neurosurgery conference to drive medical innovation    Egypt's EDA discusses Johnson & Johnson's plans to expand investment in local pharmaceutical sector    I won't trade my identity to please market: Douzi    Sisi calls for boosting oil & gas investment to ease import burden    EGX to close Thursday for July 23 Revolution holiday    Egypt, Senegal sign pharma MoU to unify regulatory standards    Famine kills more Gaza children as Israel tightens siege amid global outrage    Kuwait's Crown Prince, Egyptian minister discuss strengthening cooperation    Egyptian Drug Authority discusses plans for joint pharmaceutical plant in Zambia    Egypt's FM seeks deeper economic, security ties on five-nation West Africa tour    Two militants killed in foiled plot to revive 'Hasm' operations: Interior ministry    Egypt, Somalia discuss closer environmental cooperation    Egypt foils terrorist plot, kills two militants linked to Hasm group    Giza Pyramids' interior lighting updated with new LED system    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Korea Culture Week in Egypt to blend K-Pop with traditional arts    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    Egypt's Democratic Generation Party Evaluates 84 Candidates Ahead of Parliamentary Vote    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Bloody escalation in Gaza amid warnings of humanitarian, health catastrophe
Published in Daily News Egypt on 30 - 06 - 2025

Israeli airstrikes continued to devastate the Gaza Strip on the 105th day of renewed hostilities, leaving dozens of Palestinians dead or wounded amid escalating humanitarian concerns and growing international condemnation over what has been widely described as a campaign of collective punishment.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza reported 28 fatalities and 223 injuries in the past 24 hours, raising the overall toll since 7 October 2023 to 56,531 killed and 133,642 injured. It noted that 6,203 people have been killed since 18 March alone, as Israeli military operations intensified.
Airstrikes targeted multiple neighbourhoods in eastern Gaza City, including Al-Zaytoun, Al-Sabra, and Al-Daraj, as well as parts of Khan Younis in the south. Emergency services reported that a strike on Gaza City's port area killed 10 civilians and wounded 30 others.
Meanwhile, the Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of Islamic Jihad, claimed responsibility for destroying an Israeli Merkava tank in Abasan al-Kabira, east of Khan Younis, during a joint operation with Hamas's Al-Qassam Brigades.
The Israeli military issued fresh evacuation warnings to residents in 18 northern Gaza neighbourhoods, including parts of Gaza City, Jabalia, and districts such as Al-Zaytoun, the Old City, Al-Tuffah, Al-Daraj, Al-Zahra, and Tel Al-Zaatar, ahead of expected bombardments.
On the humanitarian front, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) warned that hundreds of newborns in incubators at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis face imminent death due to a severe shortage of infant formula. Simultaneously, Gaza's Health Ministry reported an acute lack of antibiotics critical for treating meningitis, describing the health situation as catastrophic.
Munir Al-Bursh, Director-General of the ministry, said the health system is near collapse, with only 16 hospitals partially operational and over 80,000 patients at serious risk due to severe medicine shortages.
The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) reported that more than 810 people have been killed while sheltering inside its facilities since the war began. Gaza's Government Media Office documented Israeli strikes on 256 displacement shelters, housing over 700,000 displaced civilians.
The office condemned a recent strike on Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital as a "barbaric assault," renewing calls for urgent international intervention to protect medical facilities and personnel.
Germany expressed "deep concern" over what it called "recurring incidents" during aid distribution, referencing reports of so-called "death traps" allegedly orchestrated by Israeli forces targeting civilians seeking food. Berlin urged unhindered access for UN agencies and humanitarian workers.
Meanwhile, Austria's Foreign Minister Babetta Meinl-Reisinger, during a visit to Jerusalem, sparked controversy by declaring the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation "not a reliable partner" for aid delivery, without providing further details.
The UN Human Rights Office accused Israel of killing entire displaced families in areas previously designated as "safe." It cited a strike on tents sheltering displaced civilians in Khan Younis over the weekend that resulted in multiple deaths.
In the occupied West Bank, Israeli forces declared Al-Rakeez village in the Masafer Yatta area of Hebron a closed military zone. Separately, groups of Israeli settlers stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem under heavy police protection.
Inside Israel, divisions over the war's continuation are widening. According to Haaretz, senior military officials believe the objectives in Gaza have been exhausted. Opposition leader Yair Lapid criticised the government's insistence on prolonging the offensive and called for a new strategic direction.
Regionally, Qatar's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari confirmed that Doha is currently involved in efforts related to Iran's nuclear file following the recent Israeli-Iranian confrontation. However, he clarified that there are no active negotiations regarding Gaza, despite what he described as "serious American intentions" to revive talks.


Clic here to read the story from its source.