Ongoing Israeli military operations across the Gaza Strip have resulted in at least seven deaths, according to medical sources, marking a continued breach of the ceasefire agreement that began last October. Among the latest casualties, three individuals were killed during a strike on a residential building in Beit Lahiya, situated near the Kamal Adwan Hospital. Medical personnel at al-Shifa Hospital confirmed the fatalities and noted that several others sustained injuries in the incident.
In a separate escalation, a drone strike targeting a civilian gathering in the al-Mawasi area of Khan Younis claimed the life of one man and left three others wounded. Additionally, correspondent Nour Khaled reported that three other Palestinians succumbed to injuries sustained during previous Israeli raids in Khan Younis. Two of these victims passed away due to wounds from a Monday attack, while the third individual had been undergoing treatment for injuries received approximately two weeks prior.
The humanitarian situation has been further exacerbated by the destruction of a critical supply facility. An overnight Israeli strike leveled a warehouse managed by the local organization Ard El Insan (AEI), which collaborated with Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) to provide nutrition to children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers. The explosion caused the building’s roof and walls to collapse, burying the entire stock of supplies under rubble and rendering them unusable.
Sahar Salem, a project coordinator at AEI, described the loss as a major blow to their operations, which previously supported 60 medical points and served up to 100 women and children daily. Salem, who noted that two of her colleagues have been killed and another wounded since the conflict began, emphasized that the destruction severely hinders the ability to provide essential aid to those suffering in the aftermath of starvation.
The health crisis is deepening as Dr. Munir al-Bursh, Director-General of Gaza’s Ministry of Health, warned of a “complete collapse of the basic necessities of life.” He highlighted a critical shortage of oxygen, noting that only 12 of the territory’s 34 oxygen stations remain operational. Dr. al-Bursh cautioned that any further equipment failure could prove fatal for patients, stating that doctors may soon be forced to make impossible choices regarding who receives life-saving support.
Dr. al-Bursh further criticized the current state of the ceasefire, describing it as a concept that exists in official statements but is entirely absent from the reality on the ground. These developments persist despite recent calls from US President Donald Trump, who stated in an August 17 interview with Fox News that Israel should cease operations in Gaza, citing a US-backed peace plan under which Hamas had agreed to disarm. The report also notes that “Humanitarian workers, humanitarian facilities and the supplies that people depend on must be protected,” it added. The report also notes that “We do not want to reach the point where a doctor is forced to choose between two patients, deciding who receives oxygen and who is left without it.”.