Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Israeli airstrikes pounded the Gaza Strip early Wednesday, killing and injuring dozens of Palestinians, including children, amid rapidly deteriorating humanitarian conditions and growing fears of famine and disease. The strikes targeted residential areas and sites where civilians had gathered in hopes of receiving humanitarian aid, further exacerbating an already dire crisis.
According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, at least 123 Palestinians were killed and 437 wounded in the past 24 hours alone. Among the dead were 23 people reportedly killed while searching for food. The total number of Palestinians killed while standing in so-called “hunger queues” lines for food aid has now risen to at least 1,859, with over 13,594 injured under similar circumstances.
Palestinian media reported that an airstrike on a home in the Zeitoun neighborhood, southeast of Gaza City, killed 12 people, according to medical sources at the Baptist Hospital. Five of the victims were standing in areas designated for aid distribution.
The Palestinian Red Crescent confirmed that seven civilians, including five children, were killed in a separate airstrike that hit tents sheltering displaced families in southern Gaza. Nasser Hospital also reported multiple injuries from another strike that targeted civilians awaiting food aid in the southern part of the strip.
The mounting civilian toll comes amid warnings from aid organizations and medical officials about the complete collapse of Gaza’s healthcare system. Shortages of medicine, fuel, and clean water are leaving hospitals unable to treat the wounded. In a new concern, health officials are now warning about the spread of drug-resistant bacteria in overcrowded shelters and medical facilities, which could cause a surge in otherwise preventable deaths.
Political Movements Amid Humanitarian Collapse
Meanwhile, political efforts to broker a ceasefire continue in Cairo. A delegation from Hamas, led by senior political figure Khalil al-Hayya, arrived in the Egyptian capital late Tuesday at the invitation of Egyptian authorities. The group is expected to hold preliminary talks on Wednesday with the aim of halting the war and facilitating humanitarian aid deliveries.
In a statement, Hamas official Taher al-Nunu said the delegation would discuss “the developments of the war in Gaza, as well as conditions in the occupied West Bank, Jerusalem, and the Al-Aqsa Mosque.” He added that talks would focus on ending hostilities, ensuring the flow of humanitarian aid, strengthening Palestinian unity, and building consensus on key national issues. Bilateral relations between Egypt and Hamas will also be discussed.
Al-Nunu praised Egypt’s continued mediation efforts, describing the relationship as “strong and stable,” and emphasizing ongoing collaboration across multiple files.
In parallel, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Aty said Tuesday that Egypt is coordinating with Qatar and the United States in an effort to revive a 60-day ceasefire proposal. The plan includes a comprehensive cessation of hostilities, the release of a number of hostages and Palestinian detainees, and the unimpeded entry of humanitarian and medical aid into Gaza.
A Humanitarian Catastrophe Deepens
The latest strikes come as international agencies continue to warn of a deepening humanitarian disaster in Gaza. According to the United Nations, more than 80% of the strip’s population has been displaced, and over half are experiencing extreme levels of food insecurity. The World Health Organization has also raised alarms over the spread of disease in shelters and makeshift camps, where basic sanitation is nonexistent.
Despite mounting global concern, aid deliveries remain sporadic and insufficient. Long lines for food and water have become a common sight, often ending in tragedy when such gatherings are targeted by airstrikes.
With no ceasefire yet in sight and the humanitarian system on the brink of total collapse, the cost of the war in Gaza is increasingly being borne by civilians many of them children trapped in a conflict that shows no signs of ending.
