In the past 24 hours, Israel has killed at least 48 besieged Palestinians in its ongoing genocidal war in Gaza, Palestinians media and hospital sources said.

The casualties were reported in Beit Lahiam, Jabalia, Rafah, Nuseirat and other areas.

Israel killed at least 14 displaced Palestinians sheltering in a former school in Al-Shati camp in northern Gaza.

Local journalist Hossam Shabat said 11 of the victims were his cousins.

"In a matter of minutes, I found 11 of my cousins killed. We had to collect their bodies in body bags and bury them in a matter of minutes — no funeral, no goodbyes," he wrote on X, with a video of the victims.

Israel is not allowing food and water into northern Gaza and the UN is trying to send there as aid, the UN humanitarian office says.

The only UN assistance Israel has allowed in since the beginning of its latest aggression there a month ago has been hospital supplies during medical evacuation missions, UN associate spokesperson Stephanie Tremblay told reporters.

He said Israel is preventing the estimated 75,000 to 95,000 Palestinians in the north from receiving essential items for their survival.

Tremblay said that "the entire population in north Gaza is at imminent risk of dying from disease, famine and violence."

Tremblay added that Israeli bombardments and ground operations are preventing humanitarian workers from reaching people in need, adding Israel has ordered Palestinians in parts of Gaza to flee.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has said that Israel had made some progress in getting assistance into Gaza but more needed to be done. The UN however says Israel has blocked most of the aid from entering northern Gaza.

The US told Israel in a letter last month it must take steps in the next month to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza or face potential restrictions on US military aid.

While Austin did not specifically comment on the letter, he said: "They have made some progress... but more needs to be made."

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Austin wrote to Israeli officials last month demanding concrete measures to address the worsening situation in the Palestinian enclave.

Failure to do so could impact US policy, said the letter.

Source: TRT World

BDST: 1132 HRS, NOV 08, 2024
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