Escalating conflict in Gaza: Over 4,200 Palestinians dead

Civilian casualties, including children and women, continue to rise as global protests and calls for humanitarian aid grow louder

Muslim Network TV with inputs from agencies

GAZA, Palestine – In a devastating escalation of the Gaza conflict, the death toll among Palestinians has soared past 4,200, with a significant number of casualties being women and children.

As Israeli airstrikes persist, international protests are amplifying, demanding immediate humanitarian aid and an end to the bloodshed.

The 4,200 dead include 1,524 children and 1,032 women, marking a grim milestone in the region’s history.

The Palestinian health ministry highlights the vulnerability of civilians in the face of increasing violence, reporting over 13,162 wounded amidst the continuing airstrikes.

On Friday, tragedy struck as Israeli bombings hit supposed safe zones in southern Gaza, demolishing six residences, and claiming numerous lives. Palestinian sources confirmed the deaths of 21 individuals, with 79 others, primarily women and children, sustaining injuries.

The strikes have spared no one, with even displaced Palestinians seeking sanctuary in religious sites falling victim. A targeted attack on a church sheltering evacuees resulted in 16 fatalities.

In a concerning development, the conflict spilled over into the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Military raids in areas such as the Nour Shams refugee camp have been particularly deadly, with incidents like the 13-hour confinement of families, including children, under harrowing conditions without electricity or water.

These actions have culminated in the deaths of 13 individuals, five of whom were children.

Responding to the escalating crisis, masses have taken to the streets worldwide.

Notably, Cairo witnessed significant protests at Tahrir Square, where thousands demanded the Rafah crossing’s opening to facilitate aid to Gaza.

Similarly, global solidarity for Palestine manifested in demonstrations across Muslim-majority countries, extending from Tunisia to Malaysia.

Complicating relief efforts, the U.N. grapples with imposed “restrictions” on aid deliveries, impeding necessary supplies from reaching the beleaguered region.

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urgently called for the movement of aid trucks into Gaza, a region now described as desperate for basic essentials.

However, despite these international pleas, aid remains blocked at the borders. The Rafah crossing, critical for supplies, has faced repeated bombings, preventing any cargo from entering the embattled area.

In a recent incident amplifying international outrage, Israeli forces bombed the historic Greek Orthodox Saint Porphyrius Church, a sanctuary for around 500 Palestinians.

The Church of Saint Porphyrius is the third oldest church in the world, constructed in 425 CE and later renovated in 1856.

It is located just meters away from Al Ahli Baptist Hospital, where Israel committed a horrific massacre on Tuesday, resulting in the mass murder of hundreds of innocent Palestinians.”

Condemnations have poured in, emphasizing the violation of international laws protecting places of worship and underscoring the church’s historical significance.