Israeli Strikes Kill Nine, Five Dead and 60 Injured in Rafah as 70,000 Gaza Children Face Acute Malnutrition

Israeli military operations in Gaza have escalated, with airstrikes, artillery shelling, and the demolition of residential buildings reported in Rafah, Khan Younis, Deir al-Balah, Beit Lahya, and Gaza City. Attacks have resulted in at least nine Palestinians killed since dawn, including five killed and 60 injured in Rafah, and four killed with dozens injured on Al-Thawra Street. Additional strikes have targeted displacement tents, residential homes, and public spaces, with destruction reported in Al-Qarara and other areas. Hospitals and aid facilities have also been targeted, further straining medical services.

The humanitarian situation is critical, with nearly the entire population of Gaza facing famine. UN agencies report that at least 70,000 children suffer from acute malnutrition, and 250,000 people are experiencing the most severe levels of food insecurity. Families report surviving on lentils, with bread unavailable for weeks. Aid deliveries remain far below the required 500-600 trucks daily, and most assistance is not reaching northern Gaza.

International organizations, including the UN, UNRWA, and the World Food Programme (WFP), have rejected a new Israeli-US aid distribution plan, warning it could serve a military objective and lead to further displacement. UNRWA and WFP stress that the current aid volume is inadequate, and call for a sustained, daily flow of humanitarian assistance through established UN channels. Aid officials note that looting of aid is driven by civilian desperation and is not linked to Hamas.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres and other humanitarian leaders have appealed for immediate and safe humanitarian access, stating that families are being starved and denied basic necessities. The UN and partners call for a permanent ceasefire, full humanitarian access, and adherence to international law to address the crisis.