Israeli strikes kill 67 in Gaza
PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES (AP/AFP) – With no end to the war sight, Palestinians in Gaza began fasting on Monday for the holy month of Ramadan as hunger worsens across the strip and pressure is raised on Israel over the growing humanitarian crisis.
The United States, Qatar and Egypt had hoped to broker a ceasefire ahead of the normally joyous month of dawn- todusk fasting that would include the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and the entry of much more humanitarian aid. But the ceasefire talks stalled last week.
Gaza’s Health Ministry said the bodies of 67 people killed by Israeli strikes were brought to hospitals over the past 24 hours, bringing the Palestinian death toll to more than 31,112 since the war began. The ministry doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count, but says that women and children make up two-thirds of the dead.
The first day of Ramadan came and went in Gaza, with residents marking a joyless iftar against a backdrop of famine, disease and displacement as the war in the besieged territory ground on more than five months after it began.
As the Muslim world welcomed the start of the holy month on Monday, Gazans faced continued Israeli bombardments and a spiraling humanitarian crisis.
With the flow of food and other assistance slowed to a trickle, a UN report citing the Hamasrun health ministry said 25 people have now died from malnutrition and dehydration, most of them children.
In Gaza’s southern border city of Rafah, where 1.5 million people have sought refuge, the usual generous iftar meal marking the end of the day’s fast was replaced by “canned food and beans,” said displaced Khan Yunis resident Mohammad al-Masry.
“We didn’t prepare anything. What do displaced people have?” al-Masry said.
“We don’t feel the joy of Ramadan... Look at the people staying in tents in the cold.”