In a distressing turn of events, an ambulance convoy carrying critically wounded Palestinians in Gaza came under Israeli fire, resulting in multiple casualties, as reported by the Gaza Health Ministry. The attack occurred as Israeli forces targeted the convoy near Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, leading to a devastating loss of life, according to health officials in Hamas-controlled Gaza.
A government statement confirmed that Israeli forces had targeted “a convoy of ambulances transporting the wounded,” intensifying the already dire situation in the conflict-ridden region. AFP, a prominent news agency, had a journalist on the scene who witnessed the tragic aftermath, with multiple casualties lying beside a damaged ambulance.
Prior to this incident, the Gaza Health Ministry had announced its intentions to transfer critically injured Palestinians in need of urgent treatment from Gaza City and the northern region to the south, in a bid to access necessary medical care.
This latest attack occurred just as Israel’s Prime Minister emphasized that there would be no cease-fire in the nearly month-long conflict until Hamas releases hostages. In response, the United States has urged Israel to facilitate the delivery of more humanitarian aid to Gaza and to take measures to protect Palestinian civilians.
Meanwhile, Israeli troops have continued to tighten their encirclement of Gaza City, where their campaign focuses on crushing the Hamas militants who initiated the conflict with a brutal attack on Israeli communities.
Since the conflict erupted on October 7th, there have been growing concerns that it could escalate into fighting on multiple fronts. Israel and the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah have exchanged fire along the Lebanon border, raising further apprehensions about regional stability.
Hassan Nasrallah
In a significant development, Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, announced that his group had “entered the battle” during the recent cross-border fighting. While he did not declare full engagement in the war, he did suggest that escalation remained a possibility.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, on his third visit to Israel since the conflict began, reiterated the United States’ support for Israel’s right to defend itself. However, he emphasized the urgent need for a “humanitarian pause” to enable the delivery of aid to Palestinian civilians, as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to worsen.
Disturbingly, the Gaza Health Ministry reported that more than 3,700 Palestinian children have lost their lives in the 25 days of fighting. The relentless bombardment has displaced over half of Gaza’s 2.3 million population, with essential supplies such as food, water, and fuel dwindling under Israel’s ongoing siege. Additionally, Gaza’s overwhelmed hospitals are on the brink of collapse, intensifying the urgent need for humanitarian assistance in the region.
Also Read: Israel warns Gaza residents, then strikes in retaliation against Hamas
