The vicitms include at least 13 Palestinians, including three children, killed in Israeli air strikes on two homes in the Mesbah area of southern Gaza’s Rafah city.
In a new challenge to Palestinians displaced in the al-Mawasi area in southern Gaza, many are concerned about the danger of high waves pounding the coastline.
“Enough, enough, enough. We were pushed by the occupation [Israel] to the sea where we believed it was safe. Last week the sea flooded and washed away some tents and that could happen again. Where would we go?” said Shaban, 47, an electrical engineer displaced from northern Gaza City.
Some tents put up close to the beach flooded last week.
A convoy carrying much-needed medicine and medical supplies from the Palestinian Authority arrived in southern Gaza for the first time since the start of Israel’s war more than 11 months ago.
The convoy was dispatched on Wednesday from the Health Ministry’s central base in the occupied West Bank city of Nablus in coordination with the World Health Organization.
It marked the first time the ministry was able to send medicine directly from its main warehouse to the besieged enclave since the war began, Health Minister Majid Abu Ramadan said.
Five other trucks loaded with supplies are expected to be sent “in the coming few days”.
“The trucks contain medicines and medical supplies designated for emergency departments and operating rooms in addition to antibiotics and medical supplies for kidney dialysis patients,” Abu Ramadan said.
Gaza’s healthcare system has been on the brink of collapse since the war began. Multiple hospitals have come under siege and attack and have since become nonoperational.
In a post on X, the Israeli military said the soldier was “seriously injured” in the southern Gaza Strip and taken to a hospital for treatment.
The announcement comes as Israeli forces continue to pound the besieged enclave, including its central and southern areas, where more than 1.5 million displaced Palestinians are sheltering.
Concern is growing with the administration of President Biden that Israel’s finance minister will sever Palestinian banks from Israel’s financial network, according to a report by US media outlet Axios.
Such a move, which the US administration fears could happen next month, would cause tumult in the occupied West Bank, where the Palestinian Authority depends on Israeli banks to process shekel transfers.
Israel’s far-right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, who lives in an illegal settlement, has called for Israel to annex the occupied West Bank and taken steps to weaken the territory.
