Egypt Daily News – At least 12 Palestinians, mostly women and children, were killed on Wednesday in an Israeli airstrike that targeted a tent camp for displaced civilians near Al-Hannawi School in the Asdaa area of Khan Younis, in southern Gaza, according to Gaza’s Civil Defense spokesperson, Mahmoud Basal.
The deadly strike is part of a broader escalation. Local residents reported intensified Israeli air and tank shelling in various neighborhoods of Khan Younis after the Israeli military dropped leaflets ordering residents to evacuate westward. The Israeli army claims it is fighting Hamas militants and other armed groups in the area.
This comes just one day after 27 people were killed near a U.S.-backed humanitarian aid distribution center in southern Gaza, when Israeli soldiers reportedly opened fire. The Israeli military has announced an investigation into the incident.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres swiftly condemned the shooting, saying, “It is unacceptable for civilians to lose their lives simply while seeking food.” He reiterated calls for an independent investigation and emphasized the urgent need for increased humanitarian access to Gaza, where the UN says all 2.2 million residents are at risk of famine. Despite a partial easing of the blockade in recent days, the aid reaching the enclave remains a “drop in the ocean,” according to UN officials.
Aid Centers Shut Down
Meanwhile, the U.S.- and Israeli-backed Gaza Relief Foundation announced that all of its aid distribution centers in Gaza would be closed on Wednesday for “renovation and reorganization.” In a Facebook post, the foundation said operations would resume on Thursday. The Israeli military confirmed the closure, declaring roads leading to the centers “combat zones” and off-limits.
The foundation began operations just over a week ago after Israel partially lifted its two-month total blockade on Gaza. However, the UN and many NGOs have refused to cooperate with the organization, raising concerns over its neutrality and suspected ties to Israeli military interests.
For decades, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) was the primary body overseeing humanitarian aid in Gaza. However, Israel accused the agency of colluding with Hamas, claiming some staff members were involved in the October 7, 2023 attack that ignited the ongoing war.
Mounting Casualties and Worsening Crisis
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, the death toll since the start of the war has reached 54,510 Palestinians, with 124,901 injured. Of those, 4,240 people have been killed since March 18, when a fragile two-month truce between Hamas and Israel collapsed.
On Wednesday alone, approximately 28 Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes across all provinces of Gaza, including two people killed near Al-Sikka Street in Khan Younis. Nasser Hospital in the city received nearly 20 bodies since the early hours of the day, most of them women and children killed in strikes on displacement tents.
Sources reported that ambulances from Nasser Hospital and the Kuwaiti Field Hospital had rushed to the Asdaa area in Khan Younis, where another drone strike hit a cluster of tents. The number of casualties from that strike remains unknown.
All American-run aid centers in southern Gaza have shut down amid ongoing Israeli military operations and road closures. According to Abu Kwik, 102 Palestinians were killed near these centers over the past few days.
Healthcare System Under Attack
Gaza’s Health Ministry in the central region condemned ongoing Israeli attacks on healthcare infrastructure. Most recently, an Israeli drone reportedly dropped multiple bombs on the roof of the administration building of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah.
Elsewhere, an Israeli drone strike near Al-Ahli Club in the Nuseirat refugee camp wounded a child, who was transferred to Al-Awda Hospital.
Heavy bombardment continues in Gaza City, particularly in eastern areas such as Shujaiya, Al-Tuffah, and Al-Shaaf, where Israeli forces are attempting to push deeper into densely populated neighborhoods. However, the Israeli military has reportedly withdrawn or repositioned some of its forces in northern Gaza, prompting hundreds of residents to cautiously return to inspect their damaged homes, despite ongoing risks.
