At least 42 people have been killed in Israeli airstrikes across Gaza on Eid al-Adha, medical sources reported, while a US-backed group responsible for aid distribution in the Palestinian territory announced the closure of all its centres until further notice.
Sixteen bodies arrived at Nasser Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis on Friday, according to local health authorities. Another 16 were brought to Al-Shifa Hospital in northern Gaza, five to Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza City, and five more to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir el-Balah.
“This is how Eid looks here in Gaza,” said a local reporter, speaking on the first day of the Muslim holy festival, which is usually marked by joy. “This year the day is a very grim reminder of what they have lost and how they are forced to cope with unimaginable circumstances,” referring to bombardment, displacement, and loss.
Meanwhile, a journalist wounded in an Israeli strike on Ahli Hospital on Thursday succumbed to their injuries, raising the number of journalists killed in Gaza since the conflict began to 226, according to the Gaza Government Media Office.
The office called on “all journalistic bodies in all countries of the world to condemn these systematic crimes against Palestinian journalists and media professionals in the Gaza Strip”.
“We also call on them to exert serious and effective pressure to stop the crime of genocide, protect journalists and media professionals in the Gaza Strip, and halt their killing,” it added.
Separately, four Israeli soldiers were killed in combat in Khan Younis on Friday when a booby-trapped building exploded, according to a preliminary Israeli army investigation cited by local media. This brings the total number of Israeli soldiers killed in Gaza since the beginning of the week to eight.
The deaths come as the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), responsible for aid distribution, announced that its hubs would remain closed until further notice amid escalating violence and a worsening hunger crisis in the territory.
Also read: In US, Pak delegation grilled over terror, minority right abuse
Aid agencies have warned that all residents in Gaza face the threat of famine after Israel imposed a stringent blockade in March, restricting the entry of food, medicine, and fuel. While some aid was permitted last month following international pressure, humanitarian groups maintain the amounts remain insufficient.
The GHF, which began distributing aid last week, urged people to stay away from its distribution centres “for their safety” in a Facebook post on Friday. It added that details about reopening would be announced later.
Operations at GHF aid hubs were suspended earlier this week following deadly incidents near the sites, where Israeli forces reportedly opened fire on Palestinian aid seekers. Only two sites distributed aid on Thursday.
On Sunday, thousands gathered near one such distribution site hours before dawn. Israeli forces ordered the crowd to disperse and return later. As people reached the Flag Roundabout, approximately one kilometre away, Israeli forces opened fire at around 3am, witnesses said.
“There was fire from all directions, from naval warships, from tanks and drones,” said Amr Abu Teiba, a witness.
Goher Rahbour, a surgeon in Khan Younis, told reporters that bullets extracted from victims near the aid distribution site on Sunday were from M16 assault rifles, consistent with weapons used by the Israeli military.
“I operated on two patients and we removed M16 bullets from abdominal injuries,” Rahbour said. “When I spoke to these patients, they were very clear to say they came from Israeli forces.”
The surgeon also highlighted the dire conditions in hospitals. “There is a lack of everything – antibiotics, swabs, surgical instruments,” he said.
The approach of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has faced strong criticism from humanitarian organisations, including the United Nations.
The GHF maintains that private security contractors guarding its sites have not fired on crowds. Israel’s military has acknowledged firing warning shots on prior occasions.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, Israel’s military operations have killed at least 54,677 Palestinians and wounded 125,530 as of Thursday. An estimated 1,139 people were killed in Israel during the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023, with over 200 taken captive.
On Thursday, Qatar and Egypt announced renewed mediation efforts to secure a ceasefire based on a US-backed proposal for a 60-day truce and the delivery of humanitarian aid.
Previous ceasefire attempts have repeatedly failed due to Israel’s rejection of critical conditions.
In earlier negotiations, Israel has withdrawn commitments related to a permanent halt to hostilities and a full troop withdrawal from Gaza.
Follow us
