A picture taken from Rafah on January 23, 2024, shows flares fired by Israeli soldiers over Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip during Israeli bombardment. Photo by AFP
Doha, Qatar: Israeli attacks on Gaza's healthcare facilities have further escalated and resulted in more civilian casualties in the besieged enclave. Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontieres, or MSF) reported that its staff in Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis say they can feel the “ground shaking” as Israeli bombardment gets closer.
UN also reported that the occupation forces surrounded the headquarters of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society’s (PRCS) ambulance fleet while attacks were carried out close to Al Amal Hospital.
A Ramallah-based representative of the PRCS recently stated that attacks on the organisation's headquarters left several injured and endangered thousands of displaced Palestinians sheltering inside and in the vicinity.
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[11 pm Doha Time] After over 100 days of risking his life to document the war in Gaza, renowned Palestinian photojournalist Motaz Azaiza announced on his social media handles that he has landed in Qatar today, January 23. Read more.
[2:51pm Doha Time] Over half a million Palestinians face ‘catastrophic hunger’
The United Nations Relief Works and Agency (UNRWA) says that more than half a million people in Gaza face catastrophic hunger.
In the northern part of the besieged enclave, very little aid has reached residents and displaced families there, who have begun to grind animal feed into flour.
UNRWA pointed out that intense fighting, communications blackouts and access restrictions have hindered the organisation’s ability to “safely and effectively deliver aid”.
A man shows grain used to make flour in Gaza City on January 22, 2024. Photo by AFP
[2:47pm Doha Time] Gaza death toll rises to 25,490
Attacks by the Israeli army since the start of the war have killed at least 25,490 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, according to the latest figures by the enclave’s Health Ministry.
It said 63,354 people have also been injured since October 7.
Attacks in the latest 24-hour reporting period killed at least 195 Palestinians and wounded 354 with more victims believed to be under the rubble and unreachable.
[10:49am Doha Time] Attack on PRCS part of ‘systematic targeting’ by Israel: official
Nebal Farsakh, a Ramallah-based representative of the PRCS, has said Tuesday’s attacks on the organisation’s headquarters left several injured and endangered thousands of displaced Palestinians sheltering inside and in the vicinity.
“The situation remains extremely dangerous. There has been a significant escalation since yesterday of attack on PRCS in al-Amal hospital,” she told Al Jazeera.
“Movement in Khan Younis city is extremely hard. The population is trapped under intense airstrikes along with gunfire from Israeli drones.”
Landline, cellular and WiFi connections are out as well.
“We remain extremely worried regarding the safety of our units in Khan Younis,” Farsakh said.
“There has been a systematic targeting of PRCS premises, and of health care facilities, by Israeli occupation forces since the start of the war. Eight PRCS members have been killed on duty with 29 others injured. At least 18 of centres in Gaza have been targeted, 14 ambulances completely out of service, along with 19 damaged.”
[9am Doha Time] Gaza hit with another ‘near-total’ comms blackout
Gaza is once more affected by a “near-total telecommunications blackout” amid relentless Israeli attacks, according to an internet watchdog.
“The incident is likely to severely limit most residents’ ability to communicate, in the tenth such incident since the start of the war,” Netblocks said in a post on X.
Its data showed that the connectivity status for the Rafah governorate to the south was worst, with connectivity levels dropping to as low as 5 percent.
The Palestine Telecommunications Company (Paltel) also confirmed the news.
[8:30am Doha Time] WHO’s Tedros ‘deeply concerned’ as fighting engulfs Gaza hospitals
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has said he is “deeply concerned” about reports of fighting in the vicinity of Al-Amal Hospital and Israel’s raid on Al-Khair Hospital in Gaza.
Tedros reiterated his call for an immediate ceasefire in the enclave.
“Not only do they put patients and people seeking safety within these facilities at risk, but they also prevent newly injured people outside the hospitals from being reached and receiving care,” he said in a post on X on Tuesday.
“This must end.”
[8am Doha Time] Israel ‘intentionally imposing dehydration and starvation’ on Gaza, UN expert
Michael Fakhri, the UN special rapporteur on the right to food, has described Israel’s actions in Gaza as “unprecedented” in a post on X.
“It’s unprecedented to make an entire civilian population go hungry this completely & quickly,” said Fakhri.
“Israel is destroying Gaza’s food system,” the UN expert added.
Israel has controlled the entry of food and water into Gaza since early October, with access to northern Gaza even more severely restricted.
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant announced on October 9 that food, water, fuel and medicine would not be allowed into Gaza, saying: “We are fighting human animals.”
