In Gaza, the ongoing violence continues to claim lives as airstrikes continue to destroy buildings with innocent families inside. The six-month war has resulted in the deaths of over 33,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health.
The siege, bombing, and ground offensive by Israel have led to a dire situation that the United Nations and aid officials describe as a man-made crisis on the brink of starvation. Hundreds of thousands of people in northern Gaza are facing famine, as the limited aid available struggles to reach them.
In Rafah, the southernmost city of Gaza, a large group of children and men are seen reaching out for meals being distributed by aid organizations. The city has become a makeshift tent city, hosting hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who have fled other parts of Gaza due to Israel’s offensive. The population of Rafah has swelled to 1.4 million, five times its normal size.
In Khan Younis, a southern city that has been the focus of Israel’s ground offensive, a heartbreaking photo captures a young girl in shock as a man carries a child out of the rubble. With entire blocks destroyed, Khan Younis is beginning to resemble the devastation seen in Gaza City, where an estimated 70 percent of buildings have been damaged or destroyed.
As the war reaches its six-month mark, the future remains uncertain. Efforts by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar to broker a longer ceasefire have not been successful. There is international pressure for an end to the violence, but Israel remains determined to expand its offensive to Rafah in an effort to eradicate Hamas. This has sparked fears of a sharp increase in casualties and further escalation of the conflict.