Israeli Attacks on Gaza Leave 'Over 90 Dead' in the Past 48 Hours

Health officials in the Gaza Strip report that over 90 people have been killed in the past 48 hours due to Israeli airstrikes. The Associated Press, reporting this on Saturday, April 30, cited medical staff in Gaza, noting that some of the dead were women and children who had sought refuge in areas designated as 'humanitarian zones.' The Israeli army resumed its attacks on the strip after about two months of ceasefire to pressure the extremist group Hamas for disarmament and the release of remaining hostages in Gaza. The U.S. and the European Union also classify Hamas as a terrorist organization. Reports indicate that at least 11 people were killed in Khan Younis in the past 48 hours, some of whom were in a tent in the al-Mawasi area, where hundreds of thousands of displaced persons live, designated by Israel as a 'humanitarian zone.' Israel had previously announced that it would intensify its attacks across Gaza and occupy large areas of the strip as 'security zones.' Additionally, Israel has besieged Gaza for six weeks, preventing the entry of food and other goods. Meanwhile, this week, aid organizations warned that thousands of children are suffering from malnutrition, and most people receive only one meal a day. The United Nations has also reported a severe decrease in food supplies in Gaza. On Friday, Dr. Hanan Balkhi, head of the Eastern Mediterranean office of the World Health Organization, urged the new U.S. ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, to encourage Israel to lift the blockade on Gaza to allow medicines and other aid into the region. The war in Gaza began the day after October 7, 2023, when the extremist group Hamas attacked southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people, most of whom were civilians, and taking 251 hostages. Most of these hostages were later released in ceasefire agreements or other exchanges. In response to this attack, Israel launched a military operation in Gaza that has so far left over 51,000 dead, including women and children. This war has devastated large parts of Gaza and destroyed much of the food production infrastructure. About 90% of the population of the Gaza Strip has also been displaced, with hundreds of thousands living in tents and destroyed buildings.