The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday described the current situation in Gaza as “the cruelest phase of this cruel conflict,” amid escalating Israeli airstrikes and a worsening humanitarian crisis.
Israeli attacks intensified across Gaza on Friday, with at least 71 people killed and dozens more injured or missing under rubble, according to Gaza’s civil defense agency. The strikes come as Israel expands its offensive to eliminate Hamas, following a partial easing of its blockade to allow limited humanitarian aid.
However, aid delivery remains severely constrained. Guterres said only 115 of nearly 400 cleared aid trucks have been collected recently, describing the flow of supplies as “a teaspoon of aid when a flood is required.”
The World Food Programme (WFP) reported that 15 of its trucks were looted Thursday night in southern Gaza, reflecting growing desperation among the population. “Hunger, desperation, and anxiety over whether more food aid is coming is contributing to rising insecurity,” the agency said.
Since Monday, aid convoys have resumed for the first time since March 2, but volumes are far below what’s needed. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said that during the six-week ceasefire that ended in March, 500 to 600 trucks entered Gaza daily, compared to the current trickle.
According to Gaza’s health ministry, at least 3,673 people have been killed since Israel resumed operations on March 18, pushing the total death toll in Gaza to 53,822—mostly civilians.
The war began following Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel, which killed 1,218 people. Militants also took 251 hostages, 57 of whom remain in Gaza.
Israeli attacks intensified across Gaza on Friday, with at least 71 people killed and dozens more injured or missing under rubble, according to Gaza’s civil defense agency. The strikes come as Israel expands its offensive to eliminate Hamas, following a partial easing of its blockade to allow limited humanitarian aid.
However, aid delivery remains severely constrained. Guterres said only 115 of nearly 400 cleared aid trucks have been collected recently, describing the flow of supplies as “a teaspoon of aid when a flood is required.”
The World Food Programme (WFP) reported that 15 of its trucks were looted Thursday night in southern Gaza, reflecting growing desperation among the population. “Hunger, desperation, and anxiety over whether more food aid is coming is contributing to rising insecurity,” the agency said.
Since Monday, aid convoys have resumed for the first time since March 2, but volumes are far below what’s needed. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said that during the six-week ceasefire that ended in March, 500 to 600 trucks entered Gaza daily, compared to the current trickle.
According to Gaza’s health ministry, at least 3,673 people have been killed since Israel resumed operations on March 18, pushing the total death toll in Gaza to 53,822—mostly civilians.
The war began following Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel, which killed 1,218 people. Militants also took 251 hostages, 57 of whom remain in Gaza.
