Gaza, May 1 – At least 18 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks over the last 24 hours, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, as the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate amid a two-month-long blockade.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has warned that nearly 3,000 aid trucks are stuck at the Gaza border, unable to enter the besieged territory due to ongoing Israeli restrictions. Humanitarian groups say incidents of looting are rising across Gaza as food and medicine supplies dwindle to critical levels.
Israel’s offensive on Gaza, launched in response to the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks, has now killed at least 52,400 Palestinians and wounded over 118,000, according to the Health Ministry. However, the Gaza Government Media Office estimates the true death toll to exceed 61,700, as thousands remain trapped under rubble and are presumed dead.
The October 7 attacks killed approximately 1,139 people in Israel and resulted in more than 200 hostages being taken, sparking one of the deadliest and most prolonged conflicts in the region’s recent history.
The blockade and sustained airstrikes have left Gaza’s infrastructure in ruins and millions displaced, prompting growing international concern over civilian suffering, especially as the delivery of essential humanitarian aid remains paralyzed.
Aid agencies are calling for urgent international intervention to facilitate aid entry and prevent further loss of life. The situation remains fluid and highly volatile.