Further horror stories are emerging out of Gaza where a ceasefire deal has broken down, with Israel launching a deadly offensive killing more than 400 and injuring many others.
Yesterday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) shared a post on X saying “extensive strikes” are being carried out on ”terror targets” belonging to Hamas in the Gaza strip including the city, Khan Yunis and Rafah.
In the past 24 hours, videos from medics and people on the ground have surfaced on social media documenting the carnage from the latest airstrikes.
Among the dead and injured: an overwhelming number of children and women.
Gazan Health Authorities say it’s mostly women and children among the dead.
UNICEF has condemned the recent attacks on Gaza saying it killed more than 130 children in a single day.
“The reports and images emerging from Gaza are beyond horrifying,” UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell says.
“Some of the strikes reportedly hit makeshift shelters where children and families were sleeping, proving once again that nowhere is safe in Gaza.”
Global charity ActionAid says the latest offence puts even more pressure on hospitals in Gaza.
“Hospitals – which have not received any vital medical supplies or fuel for 17 days – are overwhelmed and struggling to cope with the huge influx of injured patients,” it says.
“Our staff and partners in Gaza report fear and panic on the streets. Terrified families, who have only just recently returned to the piles of rubble that are their homes, now face being forced to flee yet again as new displacement orders are issued.”
The strikes come after Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans to mount “increasing military force” against Hamas.
The Israeli government blames Hamas for the breakdown in talks, claiming it’s refusing to release more hostages being held in Gaza.
It’s a sorrowful end to a short-lived truce which saw many Gazans returning home hoping to rebuild their lives after a long-awaited ceasefire came into effect on January 19.
The delicate deal progressed as Hamas released 25 Israeli hostages and the bodies of eight in exchange for almost 1800 Palestinians held in Israeli jails.
As this was happening, US President Donald Trump promoted his vision to “take over” the Gaza strip and “clean out” residents.
“The US will take over the Gaza strip, and we will do a job with it too – we’ll own it,” he said at the time.
In a video address posted on X this morning, Prime Minister Netanyahu says Israel’s alliance with the US has “never been stronger”.
“While Israel accepted the offer of President Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, Hamas flatly refused to do so,” he says.
“This is why I authorised yesterday the renewal of military action against Hamas.
“Palestinian civilians should avoid any contact with Hamas terrorists.
“And I call on the people of Gaza, get out of harm’s way. Move to safer areas.”
Gaza has been under heavy bombardment since October 7 in 2023, when Hamas launched its attack on Israel, killing more than 1000 people and abducting 251 people, including women and children.
While Israeli families grieve the loss of their loved ones who were taken on October 7, others remain in limbo waiting for answers on hostages they hope are still alive.
“Something out of a horror film”
The failure of Israel and Hamas to reach an agreement and move into the next phase of a ceasefire has raised grave concerns among aid organisations and medics who have been working around the clock to help people in the warzone.
Overnight, Dr Mohammed Mustafa, an Australian doctor who has been working at a hospital in Gaza, shared videos of the emergency department.
“We’ve just woken up, the whole place is shaking, there’s been bombs that have been going down for about 30 minutes,” he says.
“There’s screams everywhere.
“This is going to be a mass casualty event.”
In videos posted since, he shows a number of children suffering from critical injuries and says some had lung injuries, skull fractures and severe burns while others were dead on arrival.
“We don’t have the man power or the woman power,” Dr Mustafa says.
“It’s a makeshift hospital, it was never designed for this. The beds are all broken.
“It’s overwhelming. It’s really, really overwhelming.
“This was a surprise attack – we, certainly at the hospital, were unprepared.
“There is an overwhelming amount of women and children.
“I can’t even begin to explain to you some of the horrors that we saw … it was something out of a horror movie.”
“Their homes have been destroyed,” he says.
“A lot of them injured, a lot of them don’t have any money.
“We’re not doing this for any credit. We’ve all just got to stick together at this time, especially in the hospital.”
A few months ago, ActionAid released new research showing that Palestinian women have borne the brunt of violence, forced displacement and systemic discrimination in Gaza and the West Bank from the ongoing war.
It found that close to 200 women are forced to give birth in unsanitary conditions everyday with some undergoing caesareans without sterilisation, anaesthesia or any pain relief.
The unseen emotional and psychological toll, gender-based violence including sexual exploitation and the heavy burden of running a household in a war zone can add immense distress to those in the region.
The latest escalation in violence shows this burden will only grow.
In a statement released today, ActionAid has urged all parties to respect the ceasefire agreement and implement their commitments in full.
“How much more horror must they endure?” it says.
“The bombing must stop, permanently, and aid must be allowed to flow into Gaza unhindered before any more lives are needlessly lost.”