Overview of the humanitarian situation and escalating hostilities in Gaza and Israel
A children’s hospital in the eastern Gaza Strip is being evacuated after reports that it sustained damage tied to white phosphorus munitions. The Gaza Strip Ministry of Health released the information through its official social media page, noting the evacuation of Al-Durra Children’s Hospital in the eastern region following bombardment. This update comes amid a broader pattern of conflict that has deeply affected civilian infrastructure and medical facilities in the area, prompting international concern and calls for safe passage for civilians.
On 7 October, a major escalation unfolded as militants launched thousands of rockets into Israel and initiated a large-scale operation that was named by its organizers as Al-Aqsa Flood. In response, hundreds of militants crossed into Israeli territory, seizing equipment and taking more than a hundred individuals hostage. In light of these developments, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the country was at war, triggering a sequence of military and security actions within Israel and across the region.
Israel subsequently launched a wide-scale operation assigned to the defense forces and known in civilian reporting as Iron Swords. One stated objective of these actions has been to degrade Hamas’ military capabilities. The Israeli Air Force conducted extensive strikes against targets in the Gaza Strip, while Israel’s security leadership discussed strategic measures to limit the flow of essential supplies into Gaza, including water, food, medicines, electricity and fuel, in an effort to pressure combatant groups and efforts to respond to the threat. The United Nations later warned of a potential humanitarian crisis, advising the possible displacement of large numbers of Palestinians toward southern Gaza as a precautionary measure amid the evolving ground operations. In the days that followed, the humanitarian situation continued to deteriorate for residents trapped in affected areas, with warnings about shortages of basic services and humanitarian access intensifying on the ground.
Correspondents reported during this period that civilians remained under heavy fire and that operations were ongoing in multiple locations. The situation in the region has drawn widespread international attention, with governments and humanitarian organizations urging restraint and the protection of civilians, as well as the provision of safe corridors for aid and medical care. [citation: Gaza Health Ministry; United Nations humanitarian offices; Israeli defense authorities]