The Israeli military has renewed warnings for Palestinians not to return to northern Gaza, where five people were killed by troops as they attempted to go back to their homes in the area devastated by the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Many Palestinians want to return to northern Gaza, despite facing dire conditions in temporary shelters in the south. Israel has rejected calls to allow Palestinians back to the north, citing the presence of Hamas militants in the area. The international community has raised objections to Israel’s planned offensive in southern Rafah, which would potentially endanger the lives of 1.4 million Palestinians sheltered there. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has stated that Hamas no longer functions as a military organization, but the military continues to carry out airstrikes and raids against militants in Gaza.
Despite the warnings from the Israeli military, thousands of Palestinians attempted to return to northern Gaza on foot or donkey carts, only to be met with gunfire near checkpoints at Wadi Gaza. Five people were killed and 54 wounded in the incident, and witnesses reported that Israeli troops opened fire when some young men tried to pass through the checkpoint. The return of the population to northern Gaza has been a key sticking point in negotiations between Israel and Hamas for a cease-fire deal. Israel wants to delay the return to prevent militants from regrouping, while Hamas seeks a free flow of returnees, a full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, and an end to the war.
Six months of fighting in Gaza have pushed the territory into a humanitarian crisis, with more than 1 million people on the brink of starvation. Famine is imminent in the north, where aid deliveries have struggled to reach those in need because of the ongoing conflict. The United Nations has highlighted persistent distribution difficulties in Gaza, despite efforts to increase aid deliveries. The conflict began in October when Hamas launched a surprise attack, killing 1,200 Israelis and taking hostages. Israeli bombardments and ground offensives have resulted in the deaths of over 33,700 Palestinians and wounded over 76,200, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
The war has taken a staggering toll on civilians in Gaza, displacing most of the territory’s 2.3 million people and leaving many living in dire circumstances with little food and shelter. Large parts of Gaza, including Gaza City, have been damaged or destroyed, leaving displaced Palestinians with nowhere to return to. The United Nations food agency managed to deliver fuel and wheat flour to a bakery in Gaza City for the first time since the war started. Despite the surge in aid deliveries, the impact has not been felt by many in Gaza due to distribution difficulties. The ongoing conflict has raised concerns about the well-being of civilians in Gaza and the urgent need for a permanent ceasefire to protect the people and halt further bloodshed and suffering.
