Israeli forces killed at least 25 Palestinians across Gaza on Saturday, including 13 civilians seeking humanitarian aid, according to hospital reports. The deaths occurred amid intensified airstrikes and gunfire targeting displaced communities in Gaza City and Deir al-Balah. Separately, two infants succumbed to starvation, raising Gaza’s documented malnutrition death toll to over 120, including 83 children since Israel imposed a near-total aid blockade in March. The enclave’s healthcare system, operating at 10% capacity, now reports one child starving to death every three hours.
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) President Mirjana Spoljaric condemned Gaza’s humanitarian catastrophe as a violation of "every legal and moral standard." Over 350 ICRC staff in Gaza struggle to operate amid Israel’s siege, with many aid workers themselves facing severe food and water shortages. Spoljaric emphasized that Israel’s restrictions have created "industrial-scale misery," where 90,000 women and children urgently require malnutrition treatment, and 33% of the population survives on less than one meal daily.
U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu declared ceasefire negotiations dead on Friday, blaming Hamas for rejecting a 60-day truce proposal. Trump vowed to "finish the job," while Netanyahu promised "alternative measures" to achieve Israel’s goals, signaling intensified military operations. The collapse follows Hamas’s insistence on a permanent ceasefire and full Israeli withdrawal, reasonable terms Netanyahu called "delusional." Far-right Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir celebrated the breakdown, demanding Israel "encourage [Palestinian] emigration" and pursue "total annihilation" of Gaza.
Israel’s "drip-feed" aid model has exacerbated famine conditions, with only 28 trucks daily entering Gaza, down from 500 before. Though Israel now permits airdrops, Hamas dismissed this as a "publicity stunt," noting Gaza needs 500+ daily truckloads to avert collapse. The UN warned therapeutic foods for malnourished children will run out within days. Meanwhile, Israel continues attacking aid convoys: 1,054 Palestinians have been killed seeking food since May, including 766 near U.S.-backed distribution sites.
The violence unfolds amid mounting legal pressure. The International Criminal Court (ICC) maintains arrest warrants for Netanyahu and ex-Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes. Aside from that, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is investigating Israel for genocide. UN experts accuse Israel of using starvation as a weapon, a war crime under the Geneva Conventions. With 59,676 Palestinians killed and 87.8% of Gaza under evacuation orders or militarized zones, international bodies demand sanctions and arms embargoes against Israel.