Israeli strikes across Gaza late Tuesday and early Wednesday killed at least 21 people, with over half being women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The attacks, targeting a house in northwestern Gaza City (12 dead, including six children), an apartment in Tal al-Hawa (six dead, including three children and a pregnant woman), and a tent in the Naser neighborhood (three children), have intensified the territory’s dire humanitarian crisis. The Israeli military, which did not immediately comment, consistently blames Hamas for civilian deaths, citing their operations in populated areas.

The strikes come amid warnings of famine from the UN and experts, with Israel’s near two-year blockade and offensive severely restricting aid. Since May, over 1,000 Palestinians have been killed near aid sites, mostly run by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, with 109 human rights groups condemning Israel’s restrictions as causing “chaos, starvation, and death.” The letter demands scaled-up aid and a ceasefire. Israel claims it has allowed thousands of aid trucks since May, blaming aid groups for distribution failures.

Gaza’s Health Ministry reports over 59,000 deaths since the Israel-Hamas war began on October 7, 2023, following Hamas’s attack that killed 1,200 and took 251 hostages. The ministry, staffed by medical professionals, says most casualties are women and children, though it doesn’t distinguish combatants. The UN considers it reliable. Recent posts on X highlight ongoing strikes in Deir al-Balah, Khan Younis, and Gaza City, with ceasefire talks faltering despite US envoy Steve Witkoff’s efforts.

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