By Blessing Chinagorom
The United Nations has appalled by the tragic human toll of the conflict in Gaza, in which more than 30,000 people have now reportedly been killed and over 70,000 injured, adding that tragically, unknown number of people lie under the rubble.
UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres who through his spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric in a statement made this known condemned the incident on Thursday in northern Gaza, in which more than a hundred people were reportedly killed or injured while seeking life-saving aid.
According to him, “The desperate civilians in Gaza need urgent help, including those in the besieged north where the United Nations has not been able to deliver aid in more than a week”, he said.
Guterres reiterated his call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and unconditional release of all hostages. “Once again, I call for urgent steps so that critical humanitarian aid can get into and across Gaza to all those in need”, he said.
It was reported that a strike early hour Thursday on a crowd of Palestinians waiting for humanitarian aid in Gaza City killed at least 70 people, bringing the death toll since the start of the Israel-Hamas war to more than 30,000, health officials said.
The attack reportedly killed more than 70 Palestinians and wounded over 700, further straining Gaza City hospitals that are barely functioning after Israel’s monthlong bombing campaign and blockade, which has restricted the flow of fuel, medicine, and other necessities.
Hospital officials initially reported an Israeli strike on the crowd, but witnesses later said Israeli troops opened fire as people pulled flour and canned goods off of trucks.
Gaza City and the surrounding areas in the enclave’s north were the first targets of Israel’s air, sea and ground offensive, launched in response to Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack.
The area has suffered widespread devastation and has been largely isolated during the conflict. Trucks carrying food reached northern Gaza this week, the first major aid delivery to the area in a month, officials said Wednesday.
