Gaza— At least 92 Palestinians, including six children collecting water, were killed on Sunday as Israeli forces carried out a series of deadly attacks across the Gaza Strip, escalating the humanitarian catastrophe in the besieged territory, reported the Al Jazeera.
A particularly horrific attack occurred at a water distribution point in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, where 10 people, including six children, were killed while queuing for drinking water. Sixteen others were wounded in the strike, which has drawn widespread condemnation.
Al Jazeera’s Gaza correspondent Hani Mahmoud reported that due to the acute water shortage, people have been forced to gather even at unsafe, contaminated water sources. “This has happened nearly 10 times in the last few months alone — people being directly and deliberately targeted while trying to get water,” Mahmoud said.
Medical sources confirmed that 52 of Sunday’s casualties were reported in Gaza City, with Israeli warplanes targeting residential homes, displacement camps, and market areas. The Gaza Health Ministry stated that in the past 24 hours alone, 139 bodies and over 425 injured have arrived at hospitals.
In one such strike, prominent surgeon Dr. Ahmad Qandeel of Baptist Hospital was killed at Samer junction market in Gaza City. The airstrike left 12 dead and dozens injured, many critically.
Meanwhile, Israel’s Defense Ministry has reportedly devised a plan to relocate around 600,000 people into what observers fear could be “concentration zones” in southern Gaza, potentially expanding this to the entire population of over 2 million.
The humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate. A joint statement from key UN agencies including OCHA, WHO, UNRWA, and WFP warned that fuel shortages have reached critical levels. “Without fuel, Gaza’s humanitarian efforts will collapse. Hospitals are shutting down, ambulances are immobilized, and people are cut off from vital information and aid,” the agencies said.
On Saturday alone, Israeli attacks claimed the lives of 110 Palestinians, including 34 people waiting for food at the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’s aid distribution site in Rafah. Reports indicate that nearly 800 people have died since the foundation began food distribution in late May, with critics alleging it has monopolized aid delivery and sidelined the UN and other efficient agencies.
Further strikes on Sunday included:
Ten killed in the al-Sawarkah area west of Nuseirat.
Six killed in the Shati refugee camp in northern Gaza.
Five dead on Hamid Street in western Gaza City.
A girl and another person killed in al-Sabra neighbourhood.
Three killed at a displacement tent in Khan Younis’ al-Mawasi area.
Israeli forces also demolished several buildings in Gaza City’s Tuffah neighbourhood, adding to the widespread displacement and destruction.
According to Gaza’s Government Media Office, at least 67 children have died of hunger since October 2023. The UNRWA warned of a spike in malnutrition cases and noted it has been barred from delivering aid since March.
Despite growing international calls for a ceasefire, Israel has continued its military offensive, which began on October 7, 2023. Over 58,000 Palestinians have been killed so far, the majority women and children. Nearly every resident of Gaza has been displaced at least once, with entire communities reduced to rubble.
In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes. Additionally, Israel is facing genocide charges at the International Court of Justice filed by South Africa.
As ceasefire talks in Qatar remain deadlocked, Gaza continues to bleed — starved, besieged, and bombarded.
