Gaza war: 200+ casualties in 24 hrs as Israel deploys human shields
Shafaq News/More than 200 Palestinians were killed or injured over the past 24 hours, the Gaza Health Ministry said on Saturday, as Israel escalated its military campaign across the besieged strip while reportedly using civilians as human shields in violation of international law.
In a statement, the ministry confirmed that at least 60 people were killed and 185 injured since Friday morning. The toll excludes casualties from northern Gaza, where access to hospitals remains severely restricted due to continued Israeli siege operations. Since dawn today alone, 16 Palestinians have been killed in airstrikes targeting homes and shelters, bringing the total death toll to 53,822 since October 7.
According to Arab media outlets, Israeli forces intensified air and drone attacks in multiple areas, including Khan Younis, Gaza City's al-Tuffah neighborhood, and the al-Saftawi district. In one incident, nine children from a single family were reportedly burned alive in their home in Qizan al-Najjar following an airstrike, with their mother, Dr. Alaa al-Najjar, identifying their bodies at Nasser Medical Complex.
The assault comes on day 68 of renewed hostilities, with Israeli tanks reportedly besieging the Indonesian Hospital in Bait Lahia, firing on the facility and ambulances transporting patients. Medical teams said access has become nearly impossible, compounding an already 'catastrophic health crisis.'
In a new report by the Associated Press, several Palestinians and Israeli soldiers described the widespread use of Palestinian civilians as human shields—dubbed 'the mosquito protocol' within military ranks. Former soldiers admitted to carrying out such orders, claiming commanders approved or even issued them directly.
Rights groups have condemned the tactic as a gross violation of international law. 'These are not isolated accounts; they point to a systemic failure and a horrifying moral collapse,' said Nadav Weiman, executive director of Breaking the Silence — a whistleblower group of former Israeli soldiers that has collected testimonies about the practice from within the military.
Meanwhile, Gaza's humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate. Only 92 aid trucks entered the strip over the past three days, compared to an average of 500 before the war. 'Clean water is scarce, and the territory faces acute shortages of medicine, baby formula, and flour,' the director of medical relief in Gaza told Al-Jazeera, warning that without urgent aid deliveries, countless patients could die in the coming days.
The United Nations has echoed those concerns. Secretary-General António Guterres called the aid flow 'a teaspoon when a flood is needed,' urging Israel to immediately open humanitarian corridors. 'Without rapid, reliable, and sustained access,' he said, 'more people will die.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Shafaq News
2 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Cairo hosts high-stakes meeting on Iran's nuclear program
Shafaq News/ Egyptian and Iranian high-level officials, along with the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), convened in Cairo on Monday for a three-way meeting focused on Iran's nuclear program and regional security challenges. The talks brought together Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, and IAEA chief Rafael Mariano Grossi. On X, Grossi praised Egypt's role in promoting peaceful, diplomatic solutions to regional challenges, as well as its support for nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation efforts. Timely meeting in Cairo with Egypt's @MfaEgypt Badr Abdelatty and Iran's Foreign Minister @ for Egypt's constructive role in supporting peaceful, diplomatic solutions to regional challenges. — Rafael Mariano Grossi (@rafaelmgrossi) June 2, 2025 The meeting came against the backdrop of a series of high-level discussions between Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Araghchi earlier in the day. El-Sisi underscored Egypt's unwavering commitment to dialogue and conflict de-escalation in the Middle East, particularly emphasizing the urgent need for a ceasefire in Gaza and secure maritime navigation in the Red Sea. El-Sisi also welcomed Araghchi's updates on the ongoing US-Iran nuclear negotiations, voicing hope for a peaceful settlement to safeguard regional stability. For his part, Araghchi conveyed Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian's greetings to El-Sisi and lauded Egypt's pivotal efforts in fostering calm across the region. In a joint press conference with Abdelatty, Araghchi affirmed Tehran's readiness to strengthen bilateral ties, expand trade and tourism, and boost political consultations in the coming period. He also reiterated that Iran's nuclear program remains strictly peaceful and transparent, dismissing any allegations to the contrary as politically motivated. The Cairo summit unfolded just days after the IAEA released a confidential report expressing deep concern over Iran's growing stockpile of 60% enriched uranium, a technical step away from weapons-grade material. Grossi told reporters in Cairo that the agency aims to 'incentivize a diplomatic solution' while acknowledging that Iran's uranium enrichment raises significant alarm for the IAEA's board of governors. Araghchi countered these claims, stressing Iran's 'continuous cooperation' with the agency.
Shafaq News
2 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Iran's Araghchi in Beirut: No compromise on uranium enrichment
Shafaq News/ Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Tuesday ruled out any compromise on uranium enrichment, calling it a 'non-negotiable national red line' during a visit to Lebanon. Araghchi arrived in Beirut earlier today from Cairo, continuing a diplomatic tour focused on enhancing Iran's relationships with neighboring countries. At a book event promoting Power of Negotiation, Araghchi dismissed the latest US proposal on Iran's nuclear program as 'vague and insufficient,' pledging a formal reply based on Tehran's national interests. His comments follow five rounds of indirect negotiations with US envoy Steve Witkoff, as talks aimed at reviving the stalled nuclear deal gain urgency. In Beirut, Araghchi held meetings with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Foreign Minister Youssef Raji, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, where he reiterated Iran's support for Lebanon, framing the partnership as one of 'mutual respect.' 'Lebanon's stability is vital to the region. Iran has always stood by Lebanon and will continue to support it—especially against the occupation by the Zionist regime.'
Shafaq News
2 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Iraq pressures Turkiye on water flow
Shafaq News/ On Tuesday, Iraq called on Turkiye to increase water releases into Iraq. According to a statement by the Iraqi embassy in Ankara, Ambassador Majid Al-Lajmawi met at the Iraqi embassy with the Turkish presidential envoy to Iraq, Faisal Eroglu. He stressed that water remains a critical aspect of Iraq-Turkiye relations and reiterated Baghdad's desire for a strategic and equitable partnership that safeguards the rights of both countries. Al-Lajmawi further outlined the Iraqi government's shift toward modern irrigation methods, improved resource management, and sustainable environmental practices. During the meeting, Iraqi Minister of Water Resources Aoun Dhiab held a phone call with Eroglu to address technical concerns and explore avenues for direct coordination. For his part, Eroglu expressed Turkiye's willingness to cooperate on all discussed matters, particularly water. The two officials also discussed bilateral cooperation, focusing on water issues and the status of Iraqis in Turkiye. Al-Lajmawi urged Turkiye to ease residency procedures and remove administrative barriers, especially for students and those with humanitarian or medical needs.
