More than 70 members of a family were tragically killed in Gaza after an Israeli airstrike, which also claimed the life of a veteran UN aid worker. As calls for restraint and increased aid for war-stricken Palestinians grow, Israel appears to show little intention of tempering its ongoing “Operation Swords of Iron,” aimed at dismantling Hamas.
The focal point of the conflict has shifted to Gaza City and the southern city of Khan Yunis, both considered strongholds of the Palestinian militant group responsible for the bloody October 7 raids into Israel.
In a devastating bombing near Gaza City, Issam al-Mughrabi, 56, his wife, five children, and numerous other relatives lost their lives. The UN Development Programme (UNDP) released a statement expressing deep sorrow over the loss of their colleague and his family.
Achim Steiner, the head of the UNDP, mourned the loss and emphasized the urgent need for a ceasefire, as the mounting death toll and destruction in Gaza hinder the delivery of vital aid. Steiner stressed that the UN and Gaza’s civilians should not be targeted, calling for an end to the war to prevent further suffering.
Israel’s offensive in Gaza has caused immense devastation, displacing almost 85% of the territory’s 2.3 million inhabitants and decimating large areas of the small coastal enclave. According to a recent report from the United Nations and other agencies, over half a million people in Gaza, a quarter of the population, are facing starvation.
While the United States has traditionally supported Israel’s right to self-defense, it has become increasingly critical of the dire situation faced by civilians in Gaza. As the death toll rises and a humanitarian crisis unfolds, US President Joe Biden engaged in a conversation with Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu, emphasizing the vital importance of protecting the civilian population and those involved in humanitarian aid operations.
The tragic incident in Gaza highlights the urgent need for a resolution to the ongoing conflict and the provision of essential assistance to the affected population.
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