In the early hours of Tuesday, Israeli airstrikes heavily bombarded the Gaza Strip, bringing a renewed sense of fear and chaos to the region. The assault illuminated the predawn sky with fiery flares, abruptly ending a fragile peace.
Devastation swept across Gaza, with bombs targeting key sites including a Hamas-controlled prison and a tent camp in Khan Younis. The Al-Tabaeen shelter became a scene of distress when Majid Nasser and his family narrowly survived an attack that destroyed the room right next to where they slept.
In the aftermath, desperate Palestinians combed through demolished structures in a frantic search for survivors, while devastated parents rushed to hospitals, carrying children who appeared lifeless and covered in debris. Streets and medical facilities were overwhelmed with casualties.
By noon, the death toll surpassed 400, making it one of the deadliest days since the conflict reignited. This came after a ceasefire of two months, during which many residents had begun to return to their ruined homes in hopes of rebuilding. Humanitarian aid flowed in during this truce period, providing much-needed resources until it was abruptly halted by Israel, pressuring Hamas to accept new terms.
The ceasefire had provided an illusory respite, allowing families to enjoy the holy month of Ramadan, participating in communal meals without the looming threat of violence. However, the resurgent conflict has once again plunged them into turmoil.
In the city of Khan Younis, Zeyad Abed mourned amongst the charred remains of tents, articulating the despair as “hell in every sense of the word.” Meanwhile, in Gaza City, Fedaa Heriz could not comprehend the sudden horrors faced by families who set alarms for their suhoor meal, only to awaken to destruction.
Fedaa Hamdan’s grief was palpable as she mourned her husband and children, who perished in the airstrikes. “My children died while they were hungry,” she lamented during their funeral prayers.
Hospitals faced chaotic scenes reminiscent of the initial days of war when Israel launched retaliatory assaults against Gaza following an attack by Hamas in October 2023. Shifa Hospital’s courtyard bore grim witness to expedited funeral services for numerous victims, while inside, anguished mothers wept over their children’s lifeless forms as airstrikes continued to make their presence felt.
Medical facilities were stretched to breaking point. Doctors without Borders reported receiving a flood of injured patients, including a pregnant woman who succumbed to her wounds. Essential resources such as electricity and medical supplies have been severely restricted, exacerbating the crisis.
In response to new evacuation orders, panic and confusion reigned once more as many Palestinians attempted to flee the targeted areas, with little clarity on safe routes. Roads designated for evacuation mingled with populated regions, complicating escape attempts.
Amidst this turmoil, UNICEF’s Rosalia Bollen reflected on a prevailing dread in the run-up to the conflict’s resurgence, with children frequently questioning whether the nightmare of war would return. “It’s just heartbreaking,” she stated, observing the destruction of what fragile hope people had left.
