October 12, 2024 — The humanitarian crisis in northern Gaza worsened on Saturday as Israeli bombardments killed at least 20 people and left thousands more trapped. One of the area’s last functioning hospitals, Al-Yemen Al-Saeed, issued urgent pleas for assistance as fuel and supplies dwindled.
Israeli airstrikes targeted the Jabaliya area, once a densely populated town and refugee camp that has been devastated by the ongoing conflict. Meanwhile, in Lebanon, the Israeli military escalated its offensive against Hezbollah, warning residents of 23 additional towns to evacuate. Military reported that Hezbollah launched around 320 projectiles into Israel on Saturday, underscoring the intensity of conflict on two fronts.
Civilians Trapped Amid Relentless Bombardment
Approximately 400,000 people remain stranded in northern Gaza, according to United Nations figures. Many are unable to flee due to relentless Israeli airstrikes, which Israel claims are aimed at Hamas and or militant groups. The situation has been exacerbated by repeated evacuation orders, though aid workers on the ground report that it is nearly impossible for civilians to safely leave affected areas.
Doctors Without Borders confirmed that five of its staff members were trapped in Jabaliya, relaying information that around 20 people were killed in airstrike on Al-Yemen Al-Saeed Hospital. Gaza’s health ministry reported at least 49 deaths and over 200 injuries across the region since Friday.
Sarah Vuylsteke, a project coordinator for Doctors Without Borders, expressed grave concern about ongoing attacks. “Nobody is allowed to get in or out,” Vuylsteke stated. “Anyone who tries is getting shot.”
Hospitals on the Brink of Collapse
Gaza’s already fragile healthcare system is nearing total collapse, with hospitals in northern Gaza running out of fuel and supplies. Kamal Adwan Hospital, one of the last pediatric care centers in the region, is facing a “catastrophic situation,” according to local authorities. UNICEF’s Jonathan Crickx described evacuation orders as “extremely concerning,” noting that even designated shelters are no longer considered safe.
“I visited Kamal Adwan Hospital three weeks ago,” Crickx said, recalling a child in the intensive care unit wounded by shrapnel. “se evacuation orders put already vulnerable children at even greater risk.”
Israeli Strikes Continue Across Gaza and Lebanon
The Israeli military has targeted areas across Gaza, including those designated as safe zones and shelters. Israeli officials maintain that se strikes aim to eliminate Hamas and or militants, whom y accuse of using civilians as human shields.
In Lebanon, Israeli forces expanded its offensive against Hezbollah, with new warnings to residents in southern Lebanon to evacuate as Israel prepares further strikes. Avichay Adraee, Israeli military’s Arabic-language spokesman, accused Hezbollah of using ambulances to transport fighters and warned that any vehicle suspected of doing so would be targeted.
A Dire Situation for Civilians
As conflict intensifies on both fronts, civilians in Gaza and Lebanon find themselves in increasingly dire circumstances. The international community, including humanitarian organizations, has expressed growing alarm over the toll on non-combatants. The situation remains critical, with thousands of people trapped and hospitals on the verge of collapse, as conflict shows no signs of abating.
