Israeli forces have intensified ground attacks on the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza. Alarms are being raised about the deepening humanitarian crises. According to Palestinian medics, at least 10 Palestinians were killed as they waited in line to collect food from a United Nations agency on Monday. This comes even as reports by Israeli forces say they have requested civilians from the area to leave as they advance on the area targeting Hamas militants.

The Israeli army launched this offensive about ten days ago, concentrating its attention on northern Gaza, particularly on places like Beit Hanoon and Beit Lahiya. Bombed by airstrikes, the army continues to pound the region in which over 400,000 people are left unable to evacuate south because of the military action that has been going on, as most fear they may never be allowed to return home.

UN agencies and other humanitarian actors are concerned that the situation might be exacerbated. The UN Human Rights Office recently warned that Israel may be entirely closing northern Gaza, which would be a classic case of forced displacement. Large-scale transfers of civilians are to be transferred, which would violate international law, and separate northern Gaza from the rest of the Strip.

Besides killing civilians, schools and hospitals have not been spared. Israeli artillery is said to have shelled into the house of a family in Jabalia, killing four on Monday. Other reports said three were killed when an attack from Israel hit a school, used as a makeshift shelter. Palestinian sources say Israel now prevents critical supplies, including foodstuffs and medical equipment, from reaching the north, which worsens the humanitarian situation there.

Hospitals are swamped with casualties. Shortages of medical supplies and fuel-many of which were delivered to keep life-critical services running at Kamal Adwan Hospital, one of the leading medical facilities in northern Gaza-leave personnel to doubt how much longer they can continue to work under these conditions. “People are being killed without differentiation, even while getting sheltered or walking in the street,” said Dr. Jumah al-Ghoul.

In their bid to help efforts create a ceasefire, the UN and others continue to call upon parties to respect international humanitarian law. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has reacted to this bloodbath of civilians, saying the international community needs to do more to protect them. Even with these calls, unfortunately, violence does not seem to stop, and many seem to fear that unless there is an agreement on a ceasefire very soon, the war will just intensify.

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