Egypt Daily News – Tens of Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip on Thursday, according to Civil Defense authorities, amid a worsening humanitarian situation. The Gaza Relief Foundation postponed the reopening of its aid centers, and the UN Security Council failed to pass a resolution calling for a ceasefire.
Israel announced on Thursday that it had recovered the bodies of two Israeli-American hostages in a special operation. The two were kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz during the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.
On the ground, Civil Defense spokesman Mahmoud Basal told AFP that “Tens of Palestinians were martyred due to Israeli airstrikes since dawn Thursday on the Gaza Strip.” He said the strikes targeted a house in southeastern Gaza City, a tent sheltering displaced people in Khan Younis in the south, and a house in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza.
A fragile two-month truce between Israel and Hamas collapsed on March 18. Israel intensified its operations on May 17, declaring its intent to free the remaining hostages, take full control of Gaza, and eliminate Hamas. With daily airstrikes ongoing, the 2.4 million residents of Gaza continue to face severe hardships, including widespread hunger.
The Gaza Relief Foundation, which is supported by the United States, announced late Wednesday that it would delay reopening its aid distribution centers. These centers had been closed following the deaths of dozens of Palestinians during recent aid distribution operations. The foundation said on Facebook that its “distribution sites will not open early Thursday as scheduled due to ongoing maintenance and repairs,” and that new opening times would be announced once the work is complete.
The foundation began its operations just over a week ago after Israel partially lifted its blockade, which had previously prevented the entry of essential aid. However, chaos and reports of fatalities from Israeli fire near aid distribution sites have plagued these efforts.
US veto
On Tuesday, Civil Defense reported that 27 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire during the distribution of humanitarian aid in southern Gaza. The Israeli military claimed its forces had fired warning shots toward “suspects who approached in a way that endangered the troops.” Two days earlier, Civil Defense had reported 31 deaths in a similar incident, though Israel denied firing on civilians in that case.
The United Nations and many NGOs refuse to work with the Gaza Relief Foundation due to concerns about its methods and neutrality.
After a more than two-month-long blockade, Israel has allowed limited UN aid trucks into Gaza since May 19. However, the UN says these deliveries are just a “drop in the ocean” of the territory’s humanitarian needs, as war and blockade continue.
In an effort to ease the suffering, the UN Security Council attempted Wednesday to pass a resolution calling for an “immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire,” the unconditional release of hostages, and the “immediate and unconditional lifting of all restrictions on humanitarian aid entry and its safe distribution in Gaza.”
The United States, Israel’s main ally, vetoed the resolution, angering other council members. The draft, submitted by the ten non-permanent members of the council, received 14 votes in favor and one against.
It was the first Security Council vote on the Gaza war since November, when the U.S. under President Joe Biden also vetoed a ceasefire resolution during the conflict, which has now lasted nearly 20 months.
Bodies of hostages
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Thursday the return of the bodies of two Israeli-American hostages. In a statement, he said, “During a special operation carried out by the Shin Bet and the army in the Gaza Strip, the bodies of two of our hostages held by the criminal terrorist organization Hamas were brought back to Israel: Judy Weinstein-Hagai and Gad Hagai from Kibbutz Nir Oz.”
He added that Judy and Gad were killed on October 7 and their bodies were taken to Gaza.
Out of 251 people taken hostage in that attack, 55 remain in Gaza, with the Israeli army confirming that at least 32 of them are dead.
According to the Hamas-run health ministry, the total death toll in Gaza from Israeli military operations has reached 54,607.
