Palestinian authorities warned on Sunday that Gaza is facing an unprecedented humanitarian disaster amid continued Israeli bombardment and a crippling blockade, as the death toll from Israel's military campaign surpassed 50,000. "The Gaza Strip is on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe amid ongoing genocide and international silence," Gaza's government media office said in a statement. It said more than 2.4 million Palestinians are suffering as Israel's "policy of genocide and daily killing of defenseless civilians" continues without international accountability. The media office accused Israel of deliberately deepening the crisis by maintaining a blockade on humanitarian aid, which has caused severe shortages of food, water, and medicine. "Hunger and malnutrition are surging, particularly among children and the elderly," it warned. The statement also highlighted Gaza's worsening water crisis, citing the lack of access to safe drinking water and the spread of disease amid the collapse of healthcare services. "Our people are suffering from a systematic policy of starvation," the office said. Israel launched a surprise aerial campaign since Tuesday, killing more than 700 Palestinians and injuring over 1,200 others, breaking a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement that had held since January. On Sunday, the Health Ministry in Gaza said 41 more people were killed in Israeli strikes over the past 24 hours, raising the total death toll since October 2023 to 50,021. The number of wounded now stands at 113,274. "Many victims remain trapped under the rubble and on roads, unreachable by rescue teams," the ministry said. Meanwhile, the Palestinian Civil Defense Agency reported that paramedics were injured when ambulances came under fire in Rafah, southern Gaza. The agency said several rescue vehicles were besieged by Israeli forces while responding to casualties in the Al-Hashashin area. It also lost contact with one of its teams attempting to assist those under attack. In western Rafah, the Israeli military ordered residents of Tel al-Sultan to evacuate to al-Mawasi, calling the area a "dangerous combat zone." Military spokesperson Avichay Adraee said operations were underway in the region. The humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate amid growing international concern. Israel faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice and International Criminal Court arrest warrants issued in November for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. — Agencies
