Israeli air strikes across Gaza have claimed numerous lives, with children among the latest victims.
In Gaza City’s Sabra neighbourhood, a child was among four civilians killed when a house was bombed, according to Wafa news agency.
Another attack in al-Tuffah killed one person and injured others.
Since October 7, 2023, at least 56,500 Palestinians have been killed and 133,419 injured, with 6,175 deaths and 21,378 injuries since the ceasefire with Hamas collapsed on March 18.
On Sunday, the death toll rose to 17, including two children in al-Zeitoun, where a family home was destroyed.
Israel’s military ordered Palestinians in northern and central Gaza, including Jabalia refugee camp and most Gaza City districts, to evacuate to al-Mawasi in Khan Younis, designated a “safe zone.”
Yet, al-Mawasi has been repeatedly bombed, with five killed in a tent encampment strike on Sunday morning, medics reported.
The United Nations and Palestinians have long insisted there are no safe areas in Gaza.
Abdel Rahman Azzam, a 45-year-old Gaza City resident, described the destruction of his relative’s home: “The house was completely destroyed. We evacuated more than 20 injured people, including two martyrs, two children from the family. The screams of children and women were nonstop.”
Hospitals in Gaza are critically under-resourced, exacerbating the humanitarian disaster.
Christy Black, an Australian nurse volunteering in Gaza City, highlighted the dire situation: “Our most vulnerable are dying. We’ve seen a couple of babies die over the last couple of days in Gaza City. It’s really desperate here.”
Malnourishment is rampant, with children scavenging through rubbish for food and wounds failing to heal due to lack of nutrients.
Black noted a severe shortage of medical supplies, including formula for infants and pregnant women, leaving babies struggling to survive.
Despite the chaos, she praised Gaza’s health workers for their tireless efforts to provide care under catastrophic conditions.