In the latest wave of military operations, Israel’s forces have killed dozens more Palestinians throughout Gaza, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed at the United Nations General Assembly in New York to “complete the mission” against Hamas.
According to medical officials cited by Al Jazeera, Friday saw the deaths of 60 individuals across the heavily besieged and bombarded Gaza Strip.
More than half of the casualties-at least 30-occurred in Gaza City, where Israeli military activity has intensified since the ground offensive began on September 16.
Targeted areas included al-Wehda Street, the Shati refugee camp, and the Nassr neighborhood, with one strike also hitting the residential district of Remal in the city’s western sector.
Reporting from Remal, Al Jazeera’s Ibrahim al-Khalili described the attack as sudden and without warning. Civilians were seen sifting through debris in search of survivors, while medical teams recovered the bodies of those killed.
“This neighborhood remains densely populated, as many residents have chosen not to evacuate,” al-Khalili noted.
He added, “The situation has deteriorated sharply amid the surge in Israeli strikes targeting multiple locations.”
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, referencing data from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), revealed that Israel conducted an airstrike approximately every eight to nine minutes over the past day, inflicting severe harm on civilians.
In addition to fatalities caused by Israeli bombardments, Palestinian medical sources confirmed that 13 people lost their lives on Friday while attempting to access aid at sites managed by the controversial Gaza Health Foundation, which receives backing from Israel and the United States.
Netanyahu’s Unyielding Position
Netanyahu’s speech at the UN was marked by defiance, as he criticized nations that recently recognized Palestinian statehood. His address prompted some delegates to exit the assembly in protest against Israel’s actions in Gaza.
During his remarks, Netanyahu claimed that his message was being broadcast via loudspeakers across parts of Gaza and even sent directly to residents’ mobile phones, urging Hamas fighters to surrender and release hostages.
However, Randa Hanoun, a 30-year-old displaced Palestinian from Deir el-Balah in central Gaza, refuted these claims, telling AFP, “That’s false-we have not received any messages or heard loudspeakers.”
While ground combat continues unabated and Netanyahu shows no indication of halting the offensive, US President Donald Trump expressed optimism on Friday about nearing a resolution to the conflict and securing the release of captives.
“It appears we are close to a deal regarding Gaza. I believe it will secure the hostages’ return and bring an end to the war,” Trump told reporters at the White House, though he provided no further details or timeline. A meeting between Trump and Netanyahu is scheduled for Monday.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens Amid Encirclement
Elsewhere in Gaza, medical personnel reported the death of a 17-year-old boy at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in central Gaza, attributing his passing to starvation and lack of medical care caused by Israeli restrictions.
Doctors emphasize that this tragic loss highlights the escalating humanitarian and health emergency in Gaza, where the Palestinian Ministry of Health has documented at least 440 deaths linked to malnutrition, including 147 children.
On Friday, the international medical organization Doctors Without Borders (MSF) announced it had suspended critical medical services in Gaza City due to the “unacceptable risks” posed by nearby Israeli tank and gaza/” title=”Hamas Shares Haunting …Farewell… Photo of 48 Captives Amid …s Devastation of … | Israel-Palestine Conflict Update”>air strikes.
Jacob Granger, MSF’s emergency coordinator in Gaza, stated, “Our clinics are surrounded by Israeli forces. This is the last outcome we wanted, especially given the immense needs in Gaza City.”
MSF reported conducting over 3,640 patient consultations last week, addressing malnutrition, trauma injuries, and maternal health care.
Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians remain trapped in Gaza City, with hospitals overwhelmed and suffering from severe shortages of staff and medical supplies, MSF warned.
Tom Fletcher, the UN’s humanitarian coordinator, also highlighted the dire conditions, noting widespread hunger among Gaza’s population.
“We continue to face significant barriers imposed by Israeli authorities that hinder aid delivery,” Fletcher told Al Jazeera. “If there were a genuine commitment to ending the starvation, we could reach hundreds of thousands of people in need.”
