Israel’s continued airstrikes on Gaza have intensified, targeting critical infrastructure and resulting in the deaths of two Civil Defence workers. This surge in violence underscores the urgent need for humanitarian intervention, with Gaza’s emergency services on the brink of collapse.
Fatal Attacks on Civil Defence Teams
On Tuesday, a drone strike in Gaza City hit the Civil Defence headquarters, killing firefighter Nabil Bahloul and his son. Another Civil Defence worker, Najib Sakr, was killed in a separate bombing in the Daraj neighborhood. These targeted attacks have left rescue operations crippled, adding to the suffering of civilians trapped in conflict zones.
Ahmed al-Madhoun, a Civil Defence member, described the harrowing conditions. “We responded to a distress call about a fire caused by an airstrike. On our way, we were informed the site was bombed again. When we arrived, we found dozens killed, including our colleagues, torn to pieces.”
Civilians Forced to Fill the Void
Repeated strikes have destroyed 14 Civil Defence centers and 56 emergency vehicles, including ambulances and fire engines. Gaza’s northern regions are now without functional rescue teams. Civilians, driven by desperation, are stepping in to conduct dangerous rescue missions, often pulling victims from the rubble without proper equipment.
Deadly Raid in Jabalia al-Nazla
In northern Gaza, an Israeli airstrike on a residential house belonging to the Abu Warda family killed six people and injured many others. Civil Defence teams reported three children remain trapped under the rubble. Rescue efforts have been severely hampered by ongoing attacks and resource constraints.
Read: Seven Children Killed in Israeli Air Strike on Gaza
Wider Impact on Gaza’s Humanitarian Systems
Al Jazeera’s correspondent, Tareq Abu Azzoum, highlighted the systematic targeting of Gaza’s emergency infrastructure. He stated, “Civil Defence operations in northern Gaza have nearly collapsed. Repeated attacks have left their workers and vehicles decimated, worsening the humanitarian crisis.”
Ongoing Casualties Amid Stalled Ceasefire Talks
Since the escalation began in October 2023, Israeli airstrikes have killed over 45,338 Palestinians and wounded 107,764. On the Israeli side, 1,139 people died during Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023, with over 200 taken captive. The conflict’s toll on both sides continues to rise, with no resolution in sight.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed that a mid-level ceasefire negotiation team returned to Tel Aviv after a week of talks in Qatar. Meanwhile, an Israeli military investigation revealed that six captives held by Hamas were killed by gunfire from their captors after surviving nearly 330 days in Gaza.
Humanitarian Crisis Worsens
As Gaza’s emergency services falter, the region faces an unparalleled humanitarian disaster. The targeting of Civil Defence workers and critical infrastructure has left civilians bearing the brunt of rescue efforts. With international attention focused on the ongoing violence, the need for immediate action to protect humanitarian systems and civilian lives is more pressing than ever.
The escalating violence in Gaza highlights the devastating human cost of the conflict and underscores the urgent need for a sustainable resolution.
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