Israeli strikes in Gaza have reportedly resulted in at least 14 casualties, according to Palestinian officials, with thick smoke observed over Beirut's southern suburbs soon after Israeli forces advised residents to evacuate.
As the conflict intensifies, international aid organizations criticized Israel's response to a U.S. demand for increased aid to Gaza, stating it fell short of the compliance targets set by the Biden administration last month.
The U.S. had urged Israel to accelerate the delivery of food and supplies into Gaza, warning of potential military aid consequences.
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Despite some aid moving through northern Gaza, where Israeli forces are focusing operations, an analysis by eight international aid groups revealed Israel only partially complied with four out of 19 humanitarian criteria and failed to meet 15 others.
According to the report, Israeli actions have exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in northern Gaza, leaving the situation more severe than it was a month ago.
The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) echoed these concerns, highlighting that 85% of its attempts to deliver aid and coordinate humanitarian visits to northern Gaza were obstructed. U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric reported that of 98 requests to pass through the Wadi Gaza checkpoint, only 15 were granted.
On Monday night, the Israeli security Cabinet approved measures to increase the flow of aid, including boosting the daily number of trucks entering Gaza.
Airstrikes across the region have led to further tragedy: an airstrike on Monday night killed 11 people at a cafeteria in Khan Younis, and another early Tuesday struck a house in a refugee camp in central Gaza, claiming three lives, according to local hospital sources.
The ongoing conflict and limitations on humanitarian aid have escalated concerns from both local and international bodies regarding the humanitarian conditions in Gaza.
