Israeli Strikes Kill Over 30 in Gaza as Aid Measures Slightly Eased

Deir al-Balah (Gaza Strip): At least 34 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes across Gaza on Monday, according to local health officials. The deadly attacks came just a day after Israel announced limited humanitarian pauses to allow aid access into the war-torn territory.

On Sunday, Israel said it would temporarily halt military operations in Gaza City, Deir al-Balah, and Muwasi for 10 hours daily, from 10 am to 8 pm, to facilitate humanitarian aid deliveries and create safer corridors for distribution. However, Israeli forces continued military operations outside those hours, and the army did not comment on the latest strikes, which reportedly took place outside the declared pause.

While international aid agencies have cautiously welcomed the new measures, including the resumption of airdrops into Gaza, they warn that these steps fall short of addressing the growing food insecurity. Shocking images of severely malnourished children have sparked international condemnation, including from Israel’s close allies. Former US President Donald Trump described the visuals as "terrible."

Throughout the war, Israel has imposed varying levels of restrictions on aid. In March, it entirely blocked the entry of food, medicine, and fuel, aiming to pressure Hamas into releasing hostages. Though some restrictions were eased in May, the US-backed aid system has struggled due to violence and lawlessness around delivery sites.

With most of Gaza's population now dependent on aid, residents often risk their lives to obtain food. On Monday, Awda Hospital in central Gaza reported receiving the bodies of seven Palestinians killed near an aid distribution center operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which is backed by Israel and the US. Twenty others were wounded in the same area.

In another incident, a pregnant woman and 11 others were killed when their home was hit in the Muwasi area, west of Khan Younis. Doctors were able to save her unborn child through emergency surgery, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent.

A separate airstrike destroyed a two-story home in the western Japanese neighborhood of Khan Younis, killing at least 11 people, most of them women and children, according to Nasser Hospital.

Neither the Israeli military nor the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation responded to requests for comment regarding the reported incidents.

The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an assault that killed 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages being taken. Israel says 50 of those hostages remain in captivity, with more than half presumed dead.

Since then, Gaza’s Health Ministry reports over 59,800 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's retaliatory offensive. While the ministry, which is under the Hamas-run government, does not differentiate between civilians and militants, it states that women and children account for more than half the fatalities. Despite its affiliation, the UN and other international bodies consider the ministry's casualty figures as the most credible source available.