Why it matters:
The assault on Gaza’s largest urban center comes amid warnings of famine, collapsing hospitals, and accusations of genocide. Washington’s continued veto of ceasefire resolutions isolates the U.S. diplomatically and further inflames global outrage over Israel’s campaign.
The big picture:
Gaza City was home to about 1 million residents before the war; it is reported that 350,000 have already fled.
Israel’s offensive has, since October 7, 2023, killed 65,141 Palestinians and wounded 165,925, according to Gaza’s health ministry, figures the U.N. deems reliable.
A U.N. probe has accused Israel of genocide, implicating Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
What they’re saying:
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus: Called the situation “cataclysmic,” saying evacuation orders force civilians into “an ever-shrinking area unfit for human dignity.”
French President Emmanuel Macron: “You are destroying the credibility of Israel… globally and regionally.”
Pakistan’s U.N. envoy: The U.S. veto marks a “dark moment,” urging the world to hear “the cries of children.”
Key points:
- Israeli forces advanced from two directions, compressing residents toward the coast.
- Al-Shifa Hospital received 33 bodies since midnight Friday.
- Four Israeli soldiers were killed in Rafah by an explosive device.
- A Jordanian aid truck driver shot dead two Israeli soldiers at the Allenby crossing in the West Bank.
- Families of hostages protested outside Netanyahu’s residence, accusing him of endangering their loved ones.
- Israel also struck Hezbollah sites in southern Lebanon amid escalating border tensions.
State of play:
Palestinians are fleeing south on foot, in donkey carts, and in overcrowded vehicles. Transport costs have soared, sometimes above $1,000.
Witnesses describe chaos: “crowds everywhere, explosions, women and men crying as they walked with their belongings.”
The U.N. says aid is blocked, hospitals are collapsing, and famine is spreading.
Between the lines:
The U.S. veto, opposed by 14 of 15 Council members, comes as European states prepare to push for a Palestinian state.
As Israel’s ground offensive in Gaza intensifies and humanitarian conditions worsen, U.S. diplomatic cover has allowed operations to continue, deepening global divisions, fueling regional instability, and pushing the conflict closer to a broader war.
78 People Killed in Gaza Today as Israel Expands Occupation
Hossein Vaez - Hossein Vaez
