Residents reported that on Tuesday, the Israeli military initiated one of the largest bombardments in Gaza in weeks, while health officials cautioned that the healthcare system could completely collapse due to Israel’s blockade of all supplies.
Gaza’s health ministry announced that a U.N.-supported polio vaccination initiative aimed at over 600,000 children has been halted, jeopardizing the region’s fight against a debilitating disease that was nearly eliminated.
To resolve the conflict, a Hamas delegation was expected to arrive in Cairo for discussions in diplomacy. Two sources indicated that the delegation would talk about a new proposal that would involve a ceasefire for 5-7 years after the release of all captives and cessation of hostilities.
Sources indicated that Israel, which turned down a recent Hamas proposal to free all hostages in exchange for a cessation of hostilities, has not yet replied to the updated long-term ceasefire suggestion. Israel insists that Hamas surrender its weapons, a demand the militants refuse.
Residents reported that Israeli troops shelled multiple regions throughout the enclave using tanks, aircraft, and naval vessels. The assaults targeted homes, temporary shelters, and roadways, they noted.
Officials and residents reported that the airstrikes obliterated bulldozers and vehicles employed to clear debris and assist in retrieving bodies trapped beneath the wreckage. Since the beginning of March, Israel has enacted a complete blockade on all deliveries to Gaza and resumed its military actions on March 18 following the breakdown of a ceasefire.
Since then, according to Gaza health authorities, Israeli strikes have resulted in the deaths of over 1,600 Palestinians.
Israel’s 18-month airstrike operation has made almost all structures in the Gaza Strip unlivable, leading Gaza’s 2.3 million residents to primarily reside outdoors in temporary tents. Following the complete blockade that was enacted last month, every one of the 25 bakeries provided by the U.N. for bread production has been closed.
