The United Nations reports that two of its workers have been killed and several others injured after a compound in Gaza was damaged on Wednesday. The circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear. The Hamas-run health ministry in the Palestinian territory attributed the damage to an Israeli airstrike, stating that five critically injured foreign workers were taken to the hospital. However, Israel's military denied striking the UN compound in Deir al-Balah.
This incident comes after Israel announced that it was resuming fighting in Gaza following a two-month ceasefire. They launched a wave of airstrikes that reportedly killed more than 400 people, according to Gaza's health ministry. On Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel had "resumed combat in full force."
Verified footage from the BBC showed injured individuals—two of whom were still wearing blue UN flak jackets—arriving at a hospital in an ambulance and a UN vehicle. Additionally, at least 13 people were killed in airstrikes across Gaza overnight, following Israel's announcement of a return to combat "in full force" in the Palestinian territory. Two civilians were killed, and five others were injured when an Israeli drone struck a tent near the al-Mawasi humanitarian zone, as reported by the Palestinian Wafa news agency, citing Red Crescent medics. Israel's army claimed it targeted a Hamas military site from which the group was preparing to fire into Israel, and also reported hitting vessels controlled by Hamas.
Although the bombing intensity was lower than on Tuesday, there was no indication of a decrease in Israel's renewed military efforts. Tom Fletcher, the UN's under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief, commented that the "intensity of the killings is now off the scale." Wafa reported that a woman and a child were killed in an airstrike north of Khan Younis, while four others lost their lives in a strike in Gaza City. Gaza's health ministry has not yet provided an updated death toll for the recent strikes.
Tuesday's airstrikes marked the heaviest bombardment since a fragile ceasefire and hostage exchange deal took effect on January 19, following an inability between Israel and Hamas to extend the peace process beyond its initial phase. The deal involves three stages, and negotiations for the second stage were supposed to have started six weeks ago, but that did not occur. Under the proposed second phase, Israel would withdraw troops from Gaza; however, Israel and the U.S. instead pushed for an extension of the first phase, with additional hostages being released in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners.
Netanyahu portrayed the resumption of hostilities as a return to Israel's primary objectives: to recover hostages and eliminate Hamas. Nevertheless, families of the hostages criticized this decision, stating that it indicates the government has abandoned efforts to rescue their loved ones. Thousands of Israelis gathered in protest in Jerusalem, accusing Netanyahu of undermining democracy and restarting military actions in Gaza without consideration for the hostages.
Israel has claimed that Hamas is still holding 59 hostages, 24 of whom are believed to be alive. Egypt, serving as a mediator, condemned the fresh strikes as a "blatant" violation of the ceasefire. Israel had previously imposed a complete halt on humanitarian aid entering Gaza, raising widespread international concerns.
"For two weeks now, our food supplies have been rotting at the borders, medicines are expiring, and vital resources like water and power have been cut off—all to punish civilians further," Fletcher said on BBC Radio 4's Today program. He stated that he had spoken to the UN Security Council on Tuesday to lift the blockade and revive the ceasefire deal, including the release of hostages. "I'm not asking for the moon here," the UN chief added. He stressed that his team would continue their efforts in Gaza because they are "determined to save as many survivors as possible."
"They're asking us: What does it say about our values that we can't prevent a 21st-century atrocity happening before our eyes—and not just happening, but being cheered on?"
Hamas has confirmed that several of its leaders were killed in Tuesday's airstrikes, including its de facto head of government, Essam a-Da'lees. Additionally, Islamic Jihad, which participated in the October 7, 2023, attack that initiated the current conflict, reported the death of Abu Hamza, a prominent spokesman for its armed wing. Tragically, many civilians, including dozens of children, are believed to be among the casualties.
Regional mediators are reportedly urging Hamas to release some of the Israeli hostages it still holds in exchange for a de-escalation. However, Netanyahu has stated that any future ceasefire talks will take place "under fire." The October 7 attack by Hamas resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths in Israel and the capture of 251 hostages, 25 of whom were released alive during the first phase of the ceasefire. The UN says that two of its workers have been killed and others injured after a compound in Gaza was damaged on Wednesday, adding that the circumstances of the incident remain unclear.
The Palestinian territory's Hamas-run health ministry blamed an Israeli strike and said five critically injured foreign workers had arrived in hospital. Israel's military denied striking the UN compound in Deir al-Balah.
It comes after Israel said it was resuming fighting in Gaza following a two-month ceasefire - launching a wave of strikes that killed more than 400 people, according to Gaza's health ministry.
On Tuesday, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it had "resumed combat in full force".
Footage verified by the BBC showed injured people - two still wearing blue UN flak jackets - arriving at a hospital in an ambulance and a UN car.
Separately, at least 13 people were killed in air strikes across Gaza overnight, after Israel said it was resuming fighting "in full force" in the Palestinian territory.
Two civilians were killed and five others injured when an Israeli drone hit a tent near the al-Mawasi humanitarian zone, the Palestinian Wafa news agency reports, citing Red Crescent medics.
Israel's army said it had targeted what it called a Hamas military site, from where the group was preparing to fire into Israel. Vessels controlled by Hamas were also hit, the army said.
The bombing is not of the same scale as it was on Tuesday - but it shows no let-up in Israel's fresh assault.
Tom Fletcher, the UN's under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief, said of Tuesday's strikes that "the intensity of the killings is now off the scale".
Wafa says a woman and child were killed in an air strike north of Khan Younis overnight into Wednesday, while four others were killed in a strike in Gaza City.
Gaza's health ministry has yet to give a death toll for the latest strikes.
Tuesday's strikes constituted the heaviest bombardment since a fragile ceasefire and hostage exchange deal came into effect on 19 January, and came after Israel and Hamas failed to agree how to take it beyond an initial phase.
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The deal involves three stages, and negotiations on the second stage were meant to have started six weeks ago - but this did not happen.
Under the proposed second phase, Israel would withdraw troops from Gaza - but Israel and the US instead pushed for an extension of the first phase, with more hostages being released in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners.
Netanyahu cast the resumption of fighting as a return to Israel's primary aims - to return the hostages and "get rid" of Hamas - but families of hostages have criticised the decision, saying it showed the government had given up on their loved ones.
Thousands of Israelis have joined a protest in Jerusalem, accusing Netanyahu of undermining democracy and restarting the offensive in Gaza without regard for the hostages.
Israel says Hamas is still holding 59 hostages, 24 of whom are believed to be alive.
EPA
People gathered in Jerusalem on Wednesday to protest against the fresh offensive in Gaza
Egypt, a mediator in talks, said the fresh strikes were a "blatant" violation of the ceasefire.
Israel previously imposed a total halt on all humanitarian aid entering Gaza, causing widespread international alarm.
"For two weeks now, our food supplies are rotting at the borders, the medicines are expiring, the water's been cut off, the power's been cut off - and all that to punish civilians further," Mr Fletcher told BBC Radio 4's Today program.
He said he had spoken to the UN Security Council on Tuesday in a bid to lift the blockade and get the ceasefire deal back on track, including the release of hostages.
"I'm not asking for the moon here," the UN chief added.
He said his team was going "carry on going" in Gaza because they are "determined to do everything they can to save as many survivors as possible.
"They're saying to us: What does it say about our values that we can't stop a 21st Century atrocity happening before our eyes - and not just happening, but being cheered on before our eyes?"
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Hamas has confirmed that several of its leaders were killed in Tuesday's strikes, including its de facto head of government, Essam a-Da'lees.
Meanwhile, Islamic Jihad - whose fighters participated in the 7 October 2023 attack that triggered the current conflict - said the prominent spokesman of its armed wing, known as Abu Hamza, was killed.
However, there were also many civilians, including dozens of children, thought to be among the dead.
Regional mediators are now said to be pushing Hamas to release some of the Israeli hostages it still holds in exchange for a de-escalation.
But Netanyahu has said that going forward, all ceasefire talks will take place "under fire".
The 7 October 2023 attack by Hamas on Israel saw about 1,200 people killed and the capturing of 251 hostages - 25 of whom were released alive during the first phase of the ceasefire.
Israel responded with a massive military offensive, which has killed more than 48,500 Palestinians, the Hamas-run health ministry says, as well as caused large-scale destruction to homes and infrastructure. culture.