Urgent Relief Flowing into Gaza Amid Escalating Israeli Airstrikes and Rising Palestinian Casualties
Aid trickles into Gaza amidst escalating Israeli airstrikes and mounting Palestinian casualties, while the conflict expands to include the occupied West Bank and Hezbollah cells in Lebanon
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Life
The Israeli blockade and frequent airstrikes on Gaza, in retaliation for the violent attacks and abductions orchestrated by Hamas on October 7, have resulted in the destruction of entire communities, including educational institutions and places of worship. This relentless assault has further crippled an already inadequate healthcare system.
During a weekend of intensified strikes, medical professionals reported dire conditions at a central hospital in Gaza. With limited electricity and fuel supplies, and overwhelmed medical facilities, casualties were rapidly increasing. Dr. Iyad Issa Abu Zaher, the director general of Al Aqsa Martyrs hospital, described the situation as a "bloody day" for his staff. The hospital had already received 166 bodies and over 300 injured individuals.
Doctors at a different hospital in Gaza have raised concerns that the lives of severely ill infants in the neonatal unit who are dependent on ventilators will be lost if there is a disruption in the electricity supply. Dr. Fuad al-Bulbul, the head of the neonatal department unit at Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza, stated in a video released by the Health Ministry in Gaza that the discontinuation of electricity would result in catastrophic events within the unit.
The medical team, burdened by the overwhelming number of sick infants, expressed concern over the dangerously low availability of life-saving medications. Fortunately, a ray of hope emerged as two humanitarian convoys successfully crossed the Rafah border crossing with Egypt. These convoys, consisting of 34 trucks, delivered much-needed supplies including food, water, medicine, and medical equipment.
Rising death toll
According to the Health Ministry in Gaza, the number of casualties in Gaza resulting from Israeli airstrikes has reached 4,651 as of Sunday, with over 1,900 children among the deceased. The ministry also reported that 14,245 individuals have been injured.
Fatima Shbair/AP
What is the Rafah crossing, Gazans' last hope to escape the war, and how does it work?
No ceasefire
: IDF soldier killed and three wounded in operation near Gaza, says IDF spokesperson. Hamas claims destruction of two Israeli military bulldozers and tank in ambush, forcing Israeli troops to retreat without vehicles.A formation of Israeli tanks and other military is positioned near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel October 20, 2023.
Violeta Santos Moura/Reuters
The Biden administration had urged Israel to postpone its impending invasion of Gaza in order to facilitate the release of additional Hamas hostages and the provision of aid to the region, as per CNN's earlier report.
Nevertheless, a senior Israeli official informed CNN on Sunday that there will not be a ceasefire in Gaza, despite the endeavors of the United States and Qatar to secure the liberation of over 200 hostages being held by Hamas.
A Palestinian woman mourns over the body of a relative killed in an overnight Israeli airstrike in Rafah, Gaza, on Sunday, October 22.
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Palestinians look for survivors after an Israeli airstrike in Deir al-Balah, Gaza, on October 22.
Hatem Moussa/AP
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Relatives mourn for a family killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on October 21.
Relatives of hostages speak to the media during the "Lighting up the Light" campaign for the return of those held captive, in Tel Aviv, Israel, on October 21.
Palestinians inspect a destroyed area following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza on October 21.
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Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua/Redux
Janis Laizans/Reuters
A Palestinian woman mourns over the bodies of her relatives who were killed an Israeli airstrike that hit a Greek Orthodox church in Gaza City on October 20.
On October 19, Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant paid a visit to soldiers stationed in a field near the border with Gaza. Addressing the soldiers, Gallant emphasized, "As you observe Gaza from a distance now, you will soon witness it firsthand."
A man carries a wounded child at the site of an Israeli strike in Khan Younis, Gaza, on October 19.
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A woman mourns over a dead man at the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Gaza City on October 18.
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Abed Rahim Khatib/picture-alliance/dpa/AP
People mourn a family during a funeral in Hod HaSharon, Israel, on October 18.
On October 18th, in Tel Aviv, US President Joe Biden and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stood alongside Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli officials, eagerly awaiting the commencement of the Israeli war cabinet meeting.
The aftermath of a fatal explosion at Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza City on October 18 is visible in a photograph. Palestinian authorities attributed this incident to continuous Israeli airstrikes, however, a representative from the Israel Defense Forces claimed that a Palestinian Islamic Jihad group is accountable for a "failed rocket launch" that caused the damage.
Photo: Ali Jadallah/Anadolu/Getty Images
Wounded Palestinians sit on the floor at the Al-Shifa Hospital after being transported from the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital following a blast there on Tuesday, October 17.
Abed Khaled/AP
Abed Khaled/AP
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Civil defense members and residents conduct search and rescue operations amid destroyed buildings after an Israeli attack in Khan Younis, Gaza, on Tuesday, October 17,
Aid supplies are seen in North Sinai, Egypt on October 16.
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Palestinians wait to cross into Egypt at the Rafah border crossing in Gaza on October 16.
Fatima Shbair/AP
Violeta Santos Moura/Reuters
Shir Torem/Reuters
Israeli army soldiers patrol at an undisclosed position in northern Israel near the border with Lebanon on October 15.
In Kfar Saba, Israel, on October 15, Antonio MacÃas' mother grieves as she stands beside her son's lifeless body at Pardes Haim cemetery. Earlier this month, MacÃas tragically lost his life during an Israeli music festival, targeted by Hamas.
Palestinians collect water from a tap on October 15 after Israel blocked supplies of electricity, food, water and fuel to Gaza.
Fatima Shbair/AP
Mohammed Saber/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
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Palestinians rescue a wounded man from the rubble of a destroyed building following an Israeli airstrike in Rafah, Gaza, on October 13.
Israelis take cover after hearing warning sirens of incoming rockets fired from Gaza in Rehovot, Israel, on October 13.
Fire and smoke rise above buildings in Gaza City during an Israeli air strike on October 13.
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Palestinians flee from northern Gaza to the south after the Israeli army issued an evacuation warning to seek refuge in the south, on October 13.
Hatem Moussa/AP
Francisco Seco/AP
Valentin Ghnassia's relatives express their emotions at his burial service held at the Mount Herzl Military Cemetery in Jerusalem on October 12. Ghnassia tragically lost his life while engaging in a fierce confrontation with Hamas militants in Be'eri, Israel.
An Israeli military helicopter flies near the border between Gaza and Sderot, Israel, on October 12.
Palestinians seek shelter in Khan Younis, Gaza, after a house next door was hit by an Israeli airstrike on October 12.
Yousef Masoud/The New York Times
Smoke plumes billow during Israeli air strikes in Gaza City on October 12.
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Jack Guez/AFP/Getty Images
An aerial view of buildings destroyed by Israeli airstrikes at the Jabalia refugee camp in Gaza City on October 11.
Palestinians run from Israeli airstrikes in Khan Younis, Gaza, on October 11.
Israeli soldiers load donated food into the back of a military vehicle in Sderot, Israel, on October 11.
Tamir Kalifa/The New York Times/Redux
Baz Ratner/AP
Maya Alleruzzo/AP
Smoke rises after Israeli strikes on the seaport of Gaza City on Tuesday, October 10.
Palestinians mourn during the funeral of a relative killed in an Israeli strike, in Gaza City on October 10.
Mourning individuals gather at Eden Guez's gravesite during her funeral in Ashkelon, Israel, on October 10. Tragically, she lost her life while attending a music festival that was targeted by terrorists from Gaza. Israeli authorities have reported a minimum of 260 fatalities at the Nova Festival.
Palestinians rescue a young girl from the rubble of a destroyed residential building following an Israeli airstrike on October 10.
Fatima Shbair/AP
Tamir Kalifa/The New York Times/Redux
Israelis in Ashkelon take cover in a shelter as a siren sounds a warning of incoming rockets on October 10.
Israelis mourn as they attend the funeral of Israel Defense Forces soldier Noam Elimeleh Rothenberg at Mount Herzel Cemetery in Jerusalem, on October 10.
A Palestinian man reacts as he carries the body of his cousin who was pulled from the rubble after Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City on Monday, October 9.
Belal Khaled/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
Children run for cover as bombs fall near the Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City on October 9.
Samar Abu Elouf/The New York Times/Redux
Amir Cohen/Reuters
Samar Abu Elouf/The New York Times/Redux
Sama Alwadia, a six-month-old baby, was saved from the debris in Gaza City on October 9. Despite surviving the initial attack, the child tragically passed away during medical treatment for her injuries.
Lightning strikes over Gaza City following an Israeli bombardment on October 9.
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A Palestinian man mourns over the body of his nephew killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on October 9.
Mohammed Saber/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Ronen Zvulun/Reuters
Ilia Yefimovich/dpa/picture-alliance/AP
A plume of smoke rises in the sky over Gaza City during an Israeli airstrike on October 9.
Palestinians inspect damage from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City's Shati refugee camp on October 9.
An injured Palestinian child is pictured in the aftermath of Israeli airstrikes at al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza on October 9.
Ali Jadallah/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
Erik Marmor/AP
Fatima Shbair/AP
Palestinians inspect a mosque destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in Khan Younis, Gaza, on October 8.
Israelis inspect the rubble of a building in Tel Aviv on October 8, a day after it was hit by a rocket fired from Gaza.
Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from Gaza on October 8.
Ronen Zvulun/Reuters
Palestinian citizens inspect damage to their homes caused by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City on October 8.
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Amir Cohen/Reuters
A woman runs to her family's reinforced concrete shelter moments after rocket sirens sounded in Ashkelon on October 7.
Palestinians gather around an Israeli army vehicle that Palestinian militants drove from Israel into Gaza on October 7.
Palestinians break into the Israeli side of the Israel-Gaza border, after gunmen infiltrated parts of southern Israel on October 7.
Mohammed Fayq Abu Mostafa/Reuters
Israeli police take cover in Ashkelon as sirens wail while rockets are fired from Gaza into Israel on October 7.
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A man in Ashkelon runs after rockets were launched from Gaza on October 7.
Israelis donate blood in Jerusalem on October 7.
Maya Alleruzzo/AP
Outside of a hospital in Gaza, men sit next to the covered body of a Palestinian militant killed during Saturday's clashes.
Eyad Baba/AFP/Getty Images
Ali Jadallah/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
Amir Cohen/Reuters
Smoke rises as the clashes between Palestinian groups and Israeli forces continue on the streets of Beit Hanun in Gaza on October 7.
Rockets are fired toward Israel from Gaza on October 7.
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The IDF announced on Sunday that it had targeted two cells affiliated with Hezbollah, a paramilitary group supported by Iran, near the Lebanese border. These cells were believed to have been planning attacks on Israel. Prime Minister Netanyahu cautioned that if Hezbollah were to engage in conflict, it would face devastating consequences beyond its comprehension.
Reporting on the situation, CNN journalists Mostafa Salem, Matthew Chance, Nic Robertson, Florence Davey-Attlee, Evan John, Chloe Liu, Pierre Meilhan, Tamar Michaelis, Alex Marquardt, Priscilla Alvarez, and Sarah Dean all made valuable contributions.
