In a devastating series of airstrikes, the al-Mawasi area of Khan Younis, a designated safe zone, was struck, resulting in the deaths of at least 15 people, predominantly women and children, seeking refuge in tent encampments. The attack, which occurred on April 16, 2025, ignited fires, leaving many with severe burn injuries, according to Al Jazeera reports.
The escalating violence is compounded by a severe aid blockade, with Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz declaring that no humanitarian aid would be permitted into Gaza, effectively using food as leverage against Hamas. This restriction exacerbates the already dire circumstances for nearly half a million newly displaced Gazans since the breakdown of the ceasefire on March 18, according to UN reports.
Adding to the crisis, the Kuwaiti Field Hospital in the Muwasi area was struck on April 15, 2025, resulting in the death of a medic and injuries to 10 others. This attack follows previous incidents that have crippled Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure, leaving major hospitals “out of service,” as reported by CBS News.
The Gaza Health Ministry reports that since the conflict began 18 months ago, at least 51,025 Palestinians have died and 116,432 have been wounded. These numbers continue to climb as the attacks persist.
In related news, Musab Hassan Adili, a 20-year-old Palestinian from Nablus, died in an Israeli prison on April 16, 2025, a day marked by Palestinians as Prisoner’s Day. Adili had been detained since March of the previous year and was serving a 13-month sentence, further inflaming tensions in the region.
The international community is increasingly alarmed by the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe and the targeting of civilians, with growing calls for an immediate ceasefire and unfettered access to humanitarian aid to alleviate the suffering of the Gazan population.