Israel’s intensifying military offensive in Gaza has taken a shocking turn. key points:
- Hamas claims a British-Israeli hostage died in an Israeli airstrike
- The UK is urgently investigating these allegations about the hostage’s death
- Israel continues pounding Gaza with airstrikes as ground troops hunt for Hamas tunnels
- The worsening violence is displacing hundreds of thousands of Palestinian civilians
Amidst the mounting crisis, the European Union has condemned Israel’s evacuation orders directing Palestinians to areas lacking essential services. What is the reality for those caught in the crossfire of this escalating conflict?
Israel’s Rafah Offensive Continues
Israel has kept up its air strikes on parts of the Gaza Strip. The Israeli military says its troops found tunnels used by Hamas, the militant group controlling Gaza, at the Rafah border crossing into Egypt.
Israel has labelled a narrow strip of land near Al-Mawasi as a safe “humanitarian zone.” However, the United Nations says this area lacks running water and proper sanitation facilities.
Mass Palestinian Evacuations Underway
Israel claims around 300,000 Palestinians have already fled the city of Rafah due to warnings to evacuate. The United States is urging Israel not to launch a full-scale assault on Rafah.
In the north, evacuations are taking place in Jabaliya as Israel says it has conducted air strikes there, alleging Hamas fighters regrouped in the city.
Questions Over British Hostage’s Fate
The European Union has condemned Israel’s evacuation orders, saying civilians are being directed toward unsafe areas. Meanwhile, the UK is looking into claims by Hamas that a British-Israeli hostage died in Gaza.
Nadav Pollak was seized in October along with his mother from southern Israel. Hamas says Pollak died over a month ago from wounds sustained in an Israeli air strike. Israel has not commented on the claims.
Humanitarian Crisis Worsening
Aid groups like Action Aid UK warn the humanitarian situation in Gaza is rapidly deteriorating amid the fighting. They say:
- Getting aid into Gaza is extremely difficult due to the closures
- The healthcare system has nearly collapsed, with hospitals running out of fuel
- People in Rafah are starving and lack water, with child malnutrition rising
The areas labelled “safe zones”, like Al-Mawasi were already overcrowded before the latest evacuations. Aid workers describe scenes of chaos as displaced Palestinians arrive with no provisions.
