Power Outage in Gaza Strip Following Israeli Retaliatory Airstrikes... 4,800 Deaths Reported on Both Sides

International Community Calls for Humanitarian Aid to Gaza Strip
Israel's Ground Troop Deployment Imminent... Concerns Over Escalation Grow

Israel's retaliatory response following the surprise attack by the Palestinian armed faction Hamas on the 7th has escalated the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, which is under full blockade and devastation. The death toll on both sides has surpassed 4,800. With Israel's ground forces poised to enter Gaza and the conflict spreading to neighboring countries, casualties are expected to rise further.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to foreign media on the 11th (local time), the only power plant in Gaza ceased operations in the afternoon due to fuel shortages caused by Israel's full blockade of the Gaza Strip, resulting in a complete power outage. Hospitals must rely on emergency generators, which are reported to last only 2 to 4 days.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) reported that food and drinking water supplies for 250,000 refugees in Gaza remain for only 12 days.

Since Israel launched massive retaliatory airstrikes on Gaza from the night of the 7th, 22,600 homes, 10 hospitals, and 48 schools in the area have been destroyed. Furthermore, Israel has completely isolated Gaza by banning the entry of supplies such as electricity, water, food, fuel, and medicine, raising international concerns about the worsening humanitarian crisis in the region.

Egypt has proposed a six-hour ceasefire between Israel and Palestine to allow humanitarian aid to reach Gaza. The World Health Organization (WHO) has also demanded the establishment of corridors to enable the delivery of relief supplies to Gaza. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) urged Israel to create conditions for humanitarian aid, stating that "the blockade of Gaza will further worsen the shortage of essential food and energy that civilians must have." Previously, the United Nations and the European Union (EU) expressed concerns that Israel's full blockade of Gaza might violate international humanitarian law.

Currently, Israel is preparing to deploy ground forces into Gaza. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant stated near the Gaza border the previous day, "We have begun an offensive from the air and will later start attacks on the ground." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to form a wartime coalition government with Benny Gantz, former Defense Minister and leader of the second-largest opposition party, the National Unity Party. Additionally, Israel's airstrikes on southern Lebanon, which fired rockets at Israel, have raised fears that the conflict could spread throughout the Middle East. Hamas has continued rocket attacks against Israel.

As the fighting between the two sides enters its fifth day, the death toll has exceeded 3,300. Including 1,500 bodies of Hamas militants found by the Israeli military, the total death toll reaches 4,800.

Meanwhile, Hamas is reported to be holding at least 150 hostages in Gaza, including 50 Israeli soldiers.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.