Under a night sky thick with dust, Israeli tanks rolled to a new frontline along the edge of Gaza City, witnesses say. Houses crumbled and residents raced to safety as the military prepared for what it describes as a decisive strike on Hamas' last stronghold.
Gaza City hosts nearly 1 million peoplehalf of the enclave's 2 million residentsand faces an urgent call to evacuate before Israel's planned offensive. By Wednesday, tanks had pulled back to neighboring Jabalia, where they have been engaging militants for months.
Israel announced its forces targeted "terror infrastructure sites" and reported the August 22 death of a senior Hamas intelligence leader, Mahmoud Al-Aswad, in west Gaza. Hamas has not confirmed the loss.
Behind the battlefield figures lies a stark humanitarian toll. Gaza's health authorities report more than 62,000 Palestinians killed, while 313 peopleincluding 119 childrenhave died of malnutrition or starvation since the conflict began. The enclave now resembles a patchwork of devastation and displacement.
At the United Nations Security Council, 14 members labeled Gaza's hunger crisis a "manmade crisis," reminding the world that using starvation as a weapon breaches international humanitarian law. Their joint statement urged an immediate, unconditional ceasefire, the release of hostages, and a surge of aid corridors without restrictions.
According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, 514,000 peopleabout 25% of Gaza's populationare already in famine, with projections rising to 641,000 by September's end. Israel has disputed these findings, accusing the monitor of relying on incomplete data and ignoring recent food deliveries.
Amid these tensions, a lifeline emerged: Jordan's Medical Corridor evacuated 19 sick children and 62 family members for specialized care. Coordinated with the Jordanian Ministry of Health and WHO, this marks the corridor's tenth evacuation, offering a glimmer of relief in a deepening crisis.
As Gaza stands at a crossroads of military escalation and humanitarian collapse, the call for global action grows more urgent. The coming days will test not just military strategies, but the world's commitment to upholding human dignity amid war.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
