Aid trucks routinely denied access to north by Israel’s army: Doctor
The amount of humanitarian assistance desperately needed has not entered Gaza in required quantities since October 7, 2023, says a British doctor who has volunteered in the Palestinian territory.
“And of course, since then needs have increased exponentially,” James Smith, an emergency doctor who recently returned after working in Gaza, told Al Jazeera.
Smith said he joined several aid and medical convoys that attempted to move from the south of Gaza to the north.
“More often than not, we were denied access by the Israeli military manning the checkpoints. Very few of the UN convoys that attempted to reach the north have reached. This also on occasion meant we could not retrieve injured and sick patients from the north.”
‘Genocide unfolding in northern Gaza in its clearest form’: PA
Israel is pushing Palestinians in northern Gaza to “certain death” in its deadly offensive and siege on the area, the Palestinian Authority’s Foreign Ministry says.
“The occupation army is forcing residents of northern Gaza to either flee under bombardment or face killing in what resembles a circle of certain death,” it said in a statement.
“Genocide is unfolding in northern Gaza in its clearest form – in full view of the world – marked by siege, starvation, forced displacement, destruction of buildings, aerial bombardment, targeting of health centres, and mass killings.”
The failure of the international community to stop this “war of extermination has emboldened Israel to continue its deadly campaign”, the ministry added.
Israeli air strike kills aid worker in Gaza: NGO
The aid group Mercy Corps says a member of the organisation, Mahasin Khatee, was killed in an attack on Friday.
“We are grieving and send our deepest condolences to her family … our team in Palestine, and to all those who have lost family members and loved ones to violence over the last year of war and unimaginable suffering in Gaza,” a statement by the NGO said.
In April, the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution denouncing attacks on UN staff and aid workers as record numbers have been killed in Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip.
Qassam Brigades claims killing Israeli soldiers in Jabalia
The armed wing of Hamas says its fighters hit two Israeli army personnel carriers with a Shuwath explosive device and a Yassin-105 rocket launcher. The attacks carried out in the east and west of the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza killed and wounded troops, it said.
Israel has been carrying out a huge military incursion in the area, blowing up residential buildings and conducting mass arrests. Both Israel’s army and Palestinian armed groups report heavy clashes.
Statistics bureau says 5 employees killed since October 2023
The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) also said its office in the Gaza Strip has been destroyed during Israeli bombardment.
But the PCBS said despite the challenges, it continues to work on gathering information pertaining to the Israeli onslaught on the besieged coastal enclave. According to the organisation, between October 7, 2023 and October 15, 2024:
- More than 43,098 Palestinians have been killed
- 105,263 people have been injured
- 9 out of 10 citizens have been displaced at least once
- 16,300 people have been imprisoned
- 360,000 housing units have been damaged
