The death toll from the ongoing Israeli assault on Gaza has reached a staggering 40,939, with the majority of victims being women and children, according to Palestinian medical sources.
Since the offensive began on October 7, the number of injured has also surged to 94,616, with thousands still trapped under the rubble of destroyed buildings.
Medical sources, as reported by the Palestinian news agency WAFA, highlighted that four massacres were committed by Israeli forces against families in the Gaza Strip over the past 48 hours.
These attacks have left 61 people dead and 162 injured, with many victims still buried under debris. Rescue teams face immense difficulties reaching those in need due to continued bombardment and restricted access to certain areas.
In a separate tragic incident, a young Palestinian girl from Khan Younis, south of Gaza, died from malnutrition and lack of medical treatment. Her death marks the 37th child to die due to severe malnutrition since the blockade intensified.
Medical officials identified the child as Yaqeen Al-Astal, who succumbed to dehydration and a lack of critical supplies.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, with residents enduring severe shortages of food, water, medicine, and fuel amid relentless Israeli airstrikes.
The blockade has pushed Gaza into a state of extreme deprivation, with conditions now resembling a full-scale humanitarian crisis.
Meanwhile, in the West Bank, Palestinians mourned the loss of 13-year-old Bana Bakr, whose funeral took place in the village of Qaryut, south of Nablus. She was shot by Israeli forces during a raid on her hometown. Her body was transported from Rafidia Hospital in Nablus and laid to rest amid widespread grief.
Additionally, Israeli forces have intensified their lockdown measures across Palestinian territories, including the closure of the southern entrance to Al-Khader, a town near Bethlehem.
The closure of this key checkpoint, known as the “Nashash” barrier, has severely disrupted the movement of vehicles between Al-Khader and Bethlehem, further isolating Palestinian communities.
