Hamas has called on the United Nations and international community to intervene urgently as Israel escalates its bombardment of Gaza, killing dozens in what local residents describe as an “apocalyptic” assault on the besieged enclave.
Gaza’s health authorities reported at least 73 Palestinians killed on Wednesday, including 43 in Gaza City alone. Entire families were wiped out as Israeli airstrikes and grenades struck homes, schools, and shelters where displaced people had sought safety.
“My brother was killed inside his room with his wife and children; they erased them all,” said Sabreen al-Mabhuh, a displaced resident.
According to Gaza’s media office, Israel has detonated more than 100 explosive-laden robots in Gaza City over the past three weeks, destroying entire neighborhoods. Since August 13, over 1,100 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza City during the ongoing offensive.
Humanitarian crisis deepens
Hamas reiterated its readiness to accept a comprehensive ceasefire and exchange Israeli captives for Palestinian prisoners. The statement came as Gaza’s Health Ministry reported six additional deaths from famine and malnutrition within 24 hours, bringing the hunger-related death toll to 367, including 131 children.
UNICEF has warned that more than 132,000 Palestinian children under five face the risk of dying from acute malnutrition by mid-2026, underscoring the devastating impact of Israel’s blockade on food and aid deliveries.
Aid agencies confirm famine conditions are already gripping northern Gaza and rapidly spreading south, leaving families in desperate search of food and clean water.
International reaction and Israeli stance
Despite mounting calls for a truce, Israel rejected Hamas’s latest offer, insisting the war will only end under conditions set by the Israeli cabinet, including the release of captives and the disarmament of Hamas.
Hamas, however, maintains that disarmament is off the table until a Palestinian state is recognized under a two-state solution. Qatar, which has mediated in the conflict, said Israel has yet to respond to a ceasefire proposal accepted by Hamas last month.
UN spokespersons confirmed that more than 82,000 Palestinians were newly displaced between August 14 and 31, with the UN warning that up to one million people could be forced from their homes if Israel’s operation to seize Gaza City continues.
As global outrage grows, the war shows little sign of slowing. Families continue to flee south, while aid groups warn of a looming famine. For Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, many of whom have been displaced multiple times, survival has become a daily struggle.
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