Israel Slaps Total Blockade on Gaza Until Hostages Freed
Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz has drawn a hard line: no electricity, fuel, or humanitarian aid will enter Gaza until Hamas releases all Israeli captives. The brutal siege risks pushing Gaza’s already desperate population deeper into crisis.
Gaza in Ruins: Homes and Hospitals Shattered
UN reports reveal the scale of devastation. Since Saturday, Israeli airstrikes have flattened around 1,000 homes. Another 560 houses are wrecked beyond repair, with over 12,600 properties suffering serious damage. Thousands of Gazans are now homeless amid raging conflict.
The healthcare system teeters on collapse. All 13 Gaza hospitals struggle to function with dire fuel and medical shortages. Water supplies are critically low for over 650,000 people. Destroyed sewage systems have turned streets into toxic hazards, spreading deadly contamination.
Hamas Denies Targeting Civilians Amid War Claims
Hamas denies deliberately attacking civilians in recent deadly strikes on Israel. Ghazi Hamad, from Hamas’s Political Bureau, told Al Jazeera there’s no proof fighters targeted civilians, including children. The accusations intensify a fraught propaganda battle.
Adding confusion, the White House retracted President Joe Biden’s shocking claim he’d seen photos of Hamas fighters beheading children in southern Israel. The flip-flop fuels fresh debate amid the chaos.
Germany Halts Aid to Palestinian Territories
In a major policy shift, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced a pause on all development aid to occupied Palestinian areas. The move reviews whether funds support peace and Israel’s security. Scholz warned Gaza’s civilian suffering will worsen but pinned blame squarely on Hamas and its attacks.
