Israel kills at least 115 in Gaza as US voices concerns over humanitarian situation
A nine-month-old baby is among at least 115 Palestinians killed in a wave of Israeli strikes on Gaza, as the US voices concern over the worsening humanitarian crisis.
Middle East
Don't miss out on the headlines from Middle East. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A nine-month-old baby is among at least 115 Palestinians, mostly women and children, killed in a wave of Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip, as indirect ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas continue.
At least 61 people were killed overnight in a barrage of attacks by Israel on the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, according to local health officials.
In Jabalia in northern Gaza, an Israeli strike on al-Tawbah medical clinic killed at least 15 people and wounded several others, the Health Ministry said.
AFP footage from the aftermath of a strike in Jabalia, northern Gaza, showed mounds of rubble and twisted metal from collapsed buildings. Palestinians, including young children, picked through the debris in search of belongings.
Footage of mourners in northern Gaza showed women in tears as they knelt next to bodies wrapped in bloodstained white shrouds.
“It’s a nine-month-old baby. What did he do?” one of them cried out.
Hasan Moqbel, a Palestinian who lost relatives, told AFP: “Those who don’t die from air strikes die from hunger, and those who don’t die from hunger die from lack of medicine.”
FOLLOW UPDATES BELOW:
US ‘TROUBLED’ ON GAZA, OPEN TO ALTERNATIVES ON AID
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio voiced openness to any new ideas to bring aid into Gaza after a US- and Israeli-backed plan was sharply criticised, expressing concern over the humanitarian situation in the territory.
A new US-backed foundation announced a plan to begin distributing aid later this month in Gaza, where Israel has cut off food and other humanitarian supplies for more than two months.
“We’re troubled by the humanitarian situation there,” Rubio told reporters after warnings of famine in war-ravaged Gaza.
“I hear criticisms of that plan. We’re open to an alternative if someone has a better one,” Rubio said on a visit to Turkey.
Rubio also said he spoke about the situation in Gaza in a telephone call on with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as President Donald Trump tours Arab monarchies in The Gulf region.
Rubio said the United States shared Netanyahu’s desire to eliminate the Palestinian militant group.
“I think all of us would love to see an enduring end to this conflict, which, by the way, would end immediately if Hamas were to surrender,” Rubio said.
“As long as they exist and they’re around, you’re not going to have peace.” Israel has imposed a blockade for over two months on Gaza, leading UN agencies and other humanitarian groups to warn of shrinking fuel and medicine supplies to the territory of 2.4 million Palestinians.
UN RULES OUT INVOLVEMENT IN US-BACKED AID EFFORT
The United Nations meanwhile ruled out involvement in the project. “I made it clear that we participate in aid operations if they are in accordance with our basic principles,” said UN spokesman Farhan Haq.
“As we’ve stated repeatedly, this particular distribution plan does not accord with our basic principles, including those of impartiality, neutrality, independence, and we will not be participating in this.” The initiative would effectively sideline the UN, which has trucks loaded with 171,000 tonnes of food waiting to enter the territory.
“The UN have a plan, an excellent plan, that is ready to be implemented as soon as we’re allowed to do our work,” he said.
But Danny Danon, Israel’s ambassador to the UN, reiterated that his country would not allow a return to the previous aid system, which he believes had ties to Hamas.
He meanwhile called on UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to “recalculate” the body’s approach to what would be a “major” operation.
He added that Israel would not fund the US-backed GHF efforts but would facilitate them
‘UNJUSTIFIABLE’: PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT CONDEMNS ATTACKS
From the occupied West Bank, Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas said he favoured a “ceasefire at any price” in Gaza, accusing Netanyahu of wanting to continue the war “for his own reasons”.
In a letter addressed to Netanyahu and sent to Trump and Witkoff, 67 former hostages held by Hamas in Gaza urged for a “negotiated deal” for the return of all the captives still held there.
“The majority of Israeli society wants the hostages home — even at the cost of halting military operations,” the letter said.
Mohammad Awad, an emergency doctor in northern Gaza’s Indonesian Hospital, told AFP that supply shortages meant his department could not properly handle the flow of wounded and that “the bodies of the martyrs are lying on the ground in the hospital corridors”.
“There are not enough beds, no medicine, and no means for surgical or medical treatment, which leaves doctors unable to save many of the injured who are dying due to lack of care”, he said.
Israel imposed an aid blockade on the Gaza Strip on March 2 after talks to prolong a January 19 ceasefire broke down.
The resulting shortages of food and medicine have aggravated an already dire situation in the Palestinian territory, although Israel has dismissed UN warnings that a potential famine looms.
Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged all sides to avert a famine in Gaza, while Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said the humanitarian situation in Gaza was “ever more dramatic and unjustifiable”.
UN Secretary-general Antonio Guterres called for a ceasefire and “unimpeded humanitarian access” to the territory.
A US-led initiative for aid distribution under Israeli military security drew international criticism as it appears to sideline the United Nations and existing aid organisations, and would overhaul current humanitarian structures in Gaza.
More Coverage
Originally published as Israel kills at least 115 in Gaza as US voices concerns over humanitarian situation
Israel accused of ‘deliberate catastrophe’ to eradicate Gaza
Doctors Without Borders has slammed Israel for creating a “deliberate humanitarian catastrophe” in Gaza and accused it of a forced displacement of Palestinians. Follow updates.
US, Israel discuss possible US-led administration for Gaza: sources
The US and Israel have discussed the possibility of Washington leading a temporary post-war administration of Gaza as the UN warned about the “annihilation” of the area. Follow updates.