Gaza - New York: Europe and the Arabs
While UN organizations have confirmed that ongoing military activities in and around Gaza City, as well as in the south, are causing significant human losses, including deaths, injuries, and displacement, Israeli Army Radio reported that approximately 40,000 reservists have joined their units as part of Operation "Gideon II," half of them to replace regular forces on the front lines, and the other half to support headquarters, intelligence, and the air force.
Israeli forces continue to bomb various areas in the Gaza Strip, leaving dozens dead and wounded, including civilians awaiting humanitarian aid. At the same time, Israel has begun a large-scale mobilization of its forces, with reservists joining their units in preparation for an offensive aimed at seizing control of Gaza City. According to a report by the European News Network website in Brussels, "Unions," on Wednesday, the Ministry of Health in Gaza announced on Tuesday the deaths of 13 people, including three children, due to starvation and malnutrition within 24 hours. This is the largest daily death toll since the start of the war, bringing the total number of starvation victims to 361, including 130 children. The ministry warned of an accelerating catastrophe with the severe shortage of food and medical supplies.
Israeli Army Radio reported that approximately 40,000 reserve soldiers have joined their units as part of Operation "Gideon Carriages 2," half of them to replace regular forces on the front lines, and the other half to support headquarters, intelligence, and the air force.
Israeli Channel 13 reported that the army estimates that taking control of Gaza City could take a full year, with the possibility of approximately 100 soldiers being killed during the operation. Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir confirmed that the war "will continue and deepen," emphasizing to reserve soldiers that operations will not cease until "the enemy is subdued." The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that ongoing military activities in and around Gaza City, as well as in the south, are causing significant human losses, including deaths, injuries, and displacement. According to the UN daily news bulletin, UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric noted daily reports of malnutrition-related deaths in the Gaza Strip. Citing the World Food Programme (WFP), he said the situation continues to deteriorate.
On Tuesday, the WFP resumed the distribution of electronic vouchers, which have now reached 22,500 people, after a five-month hiatus. The program prioritizes vulnerable groups, including people with disabilities and female-headed households.
The UN and its partners continue to transport food and medical supplies to and from the crossings. However, Dujarric said the situation on the ground has not allowed for the resumption of community-based distributions.
The WFP stated that violence amid crowds and convoys makes the organized distribution of aid almost impossible and puts civilians and staff at risk.
Adding to these difficulties are overcrowding at entry points and scarce supplies. The UN spokesperson emphasized that a ceasefire is the only way to ensure the necessary conditions for a massive humanitarian response to prevent famine. He noted that during the recent ceasefire, aid organizations were able to reach nearly everyone in the Gaza Strip with life-saving assistance. He emphasized the possibility of repeating this. He noted that the movement of relief teams within the Gaza Strip remains severely restricted.