Wafric News – May 10, 2025

At least 21 individuals, including several children, have been killed in Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, continuing a pattern of violence that has intensified the already dire humanitarian situation in the enclave. These attacks come as Gaza suffers from a months-long Israeli blockade, severely restricting access to food, medicine, and other essential supplies.

On Saturday evening, four Palestinians were killed, and others injured, when an Israeli airstrike targeted a tent sheltering displaced families in Deir al-Balah, located in central Gaza. Earlier that day, Israeli warplanes bombed a tent in Gaza City’s Sabra neighborhood, claiming the lives of five members of the Tlaib family.

“We were asleep when the bombs fell. Three children, their mother, and her husband were killed without warning,” said Omar Abu al-Kass, the children's grandfather, speaking to AFP. He emphasized that they had done nothing wrong, adding to the horror of the strike.

The violence extended beyond airstrikes. A drone attack in Gaza City's Tuffah neighborhood killed six people, while another strike on an apartment in Sheikh Radwan left one person dead. Further south, Israeli gunboats opened fire along the shores of Rafah, killing Mohammed Saeed al-Bardawil and injuring two others in an attack on the al-Mawasi humanitarian zone.

In the past 24 hours, at least 23 Palestinians have been killed, and 124 others injured across the Gaza Strip, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

These assaults occur against the backdrop of Israel’s continued blockade on Gaza, which has been in effect since March 2. The blockade has left Gaza’s 2.3 million residents dependent on a shrinking network of charity kitchens, many of which are now shutting down due to lack of supplies.

Al Jazeera’s Hind Khoudary, reporting from Deir el-Balah, described the dire situation: “Bakeries are not operating, and distribution points are non-existent. Only a few hot meal kitchens remain open, serving food that was once meant for 100 people to up to 2,000.”

She added that people wait in long lines for hours, only to leave empty-handed, while the lack of food, medical supplies, fuel, and cooking gas exacerbates the crisis. Khoudary noted the growing death toll, particularly among children suffering from malnutrition.

The U.S.-based charity World Central Kitchen, which had been providing meals to the population, announced the closure of its operations on Wednesday due to a lack of supplies, further compounding the hardship.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has issued repeated calls for the blockade to be lifted, highlighting the dire consequences: "Children are starving and dying. Community kitchens are shutting down. Clean water is running out."

The blockade is also taking a toll on patients with chronic illnesses, including those suffering from cancer, diabetes, and rare conditions, who can no longer access life-saving medications.

Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud reported from Gaza City, where doctors emphasize the preventable nature of the suffering. "These diseases are treatable, but the people of Gaza no longer have access to the necessary medications," Mahmoud said, quoting local health officials who describe the situation as not just a logistical failure, but a failure of humanity.

One father of a 10-year-old diabetic child explained the struggles of securing insulin, saying he spends entire days searching pharmacies and sometimes resorts to bartering for medication from individuals who have it.

Said al-Soudy, head of emergency care at Gaza City’s Al Helou International Hospital, revealed that many patients are unable to access essential medications, putting their health at risk. Without proper treatment, their conditions are rapidly deteriorating, he warned.

Pharmacist Rana Alsamak told Al Jazeera that common medications for multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, hepatitis, and immune-related diseases have become virtually impossible to obtain, leaving many conditions untreated.

In response to the crisis, the United States announced the establishment of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation to coordinate aid deliveries into Gaza. However, this move has sparked controversy, with the United Nations rejecting it. The UN argues that such a plan would compromise the neutrality of aid and lead to further displacement of Gaza’s population.

The situation in Gaza remains critical, with both the ongoing blockade and the escalating violence continuing to wreak havoc on the region's civilian population.


By WafricNews Desk.