Late-night Assault Continues: Nuseirat Refugee Camp Hit, Bureij Residents Ordered to Evacuate

The bombardment of the Gaza Strip by Israel persisted into the night on Friday, with reports indicating sustained air strikes and ground attacks. Palestinian media reported at least 18 casualties in a strike on the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. Simultaneously, residents of the Bureij camp were instructed by the Israeli army to move south as the ground offensive continued.

Humanitarian Plea at the UN Security Council

In New York, the UN Security Council passed a resolution urging increased humanitarian aid for Gaza. However, the motion stopped short of calling for an immediate ceasefire in the conflict.

Casualties and Displacement

Wafa, the official Palestinian news agency, reported a death toll of at least 18 people and numerous injuries resulting from an air strike on a house in Nuseirat. Additionally, an air strike destroyed a water treatment plant in Jabalia, northern Gaza. Residents of Bureij were compelled to relocate south for their safety.

Residents expressed despair and uncertainty about their situation. Ziad, a medic and father of six, questioned, "Where should we go to? There is no safe place." Walaa al-Medini, a wheelchair user, described the dire conditions in Gaza City after her home was struck, stating, "This is not a life: no water, no food, nothing."

The Palestine Red Crescent Society reported air strikes near Al-Amal Hospital in Khan Younis, while Doctors Without Borders decried Israel's "indiscriminate strikes," turning parts of Gaza into rubble.

International Response and UN Resolution

The UN Security Council's resolution sought to establish "extended humanitarian pauses and corridors" throughout Gaza. This decision followed days of negotiations to avoid a potential veto by the United States, a key ally of Israel.

Humanitarian Crisis Deepens

The UN's World Food Programme highlighted a worsening humanitarian situation, with approximately 500,000 people in Gaza facing "catastrophic hunger conditions." Essential resources such as food and water are rapidly depleting.

Background and Rationale

The current conflict originated on October 7 when Hamas fighters crossed from Gaza into Israel, resulting in casualties and hostages. Israel, while expressing regret for civilian casualties, has attributed them to Hamas operating in densely populated areas or using civilians as shields, a claim denied by the group.

As the situation unfolds, concerns escalate regarding the toll on civilians, infrastructure, and the urgent need for humanitarian assistance in the Gaza Strip.