Infant dies of hunger as 21 killed in Gaza by Israeli strikes in 24h
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The UN warns that "Israel's" declaration of Gaza City as a combat zone may trigger a humanitarian disaster across the Strip, with OCHA highlighting the risks of forced displacement and urging continued aid access.
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Displaced Palestinians fleeing the northern Gaza Strip move with their belongings on a street in Gaza City, on August 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)
At least 21 Palestinians were killed and several others wounded early Saturday as Israeli warplanes launched a wave of airstrikes across multiple areas of the Gaza Strip, according to Al Mayadeen’s correspondent.
Our correspondent reported that Israeli invading units detonated five unmanned ground units in the al-Nazla area, north of Gaza, between dawn and early morning, coinciding with heavy bombardment of the city’s northwestern neighborhoods.
Al-Shifa Hospital confirmed the death of infant Rania Ghban, who succumbed to severe malnutrition and lack of access to treatment.
Meanwhile, al-Awda Hospital in Nuseirat reported that four Palestinians were killed and eight injured in a strike near an aid distribution point along Salah al-Din Street, south of Wadi Gaza in the central Strip. The hospital also received the remains of three martyrs pulled from the rubble following an Israeli strike on a house on al-Ishrin Street in Nuseirat camp the previous evening.
Additionally, a child was killed and others were wounded in a brutal Israeli aggression near Abu Arif Street in Deir al-Balah. Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis later reported the killing of a Palestinian woman in an airstrike north of the city.
The Israeli assaults come amid continued Israeli gunfire near the humanitarian aid hub in the Netzarim corridor, further compounding the hardships faced by Gaza’s besieged residents.
UN warns of crisis as Gaza City declared combat zone
The United Nations warned on Saturday that the ongoing aggression by the Israeli occupation on Gaza City could have a "horrific impact" on the population across the entire Gaza Strip if the bombardment escalates.
In an official statement, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) emphasized the urgent need to ensure continued access for life-saving relief operations, warning against any further deterioration in humanitarian conditions.
"Forcing hundreds of thousands of people to flee south is a recipe for another disaster and may amount to forced displacement," OCHA stated, highlighting the compounding crisis caused by the repeated displacement of civilians amid ongoing military operations.
'Israel' declares Gaza City a combat zone
The Israeli occupation declared Gaza City a "dangerous combat zone" on Friday, signaling the beginning of a planned offensive on the area. The announcement has raised serious concerns among humanitarian agencies about the potential consequences of intensified military activity in the city.
The move is seen as part of a broader plan to reoccupy areas within Gaza City, with residents being ordered to evacuate southward under threat of attack.
OCHA argued that such actions, including forced evacuations and the targeting of densely populated areas, are not only detrimental to humanitarian efforts but may constitute violations under international law. The office reiterated that the ongoing obstruction of aid and displacement of civilians would further exacerbate an already dire humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.
The situation in Gaza continues to draw international condemnation and growing concern over the escalation of violence and its impact on over two million residents, most of whom are already displaced or living in critical conditions due to months of aggression and blockade.
Rising death toll, aid martyrs
It is worth noting that Gaza’s Health Ministry reported on August 29 that five people died of malnutrition in the previous 24 hours, bringing the total number of famine-related deaths to 322. The Ministry warned that conditions are rapidly worsening, particularly in the north, where food shortages are most severe.
After the occupation declared that Gaza City was a "combat zone," citizens were left in around a fifth of the territory. Many so-called “humanitarian zones” have repeatedly come under attack, including the vicinity of hospitals and areas that house refugee tents.
The latest death toll reported on August 29 reported that hospitals received 59 martyrs, 2 of them extracted from under the rubble, in addition to 224 injuries in 24 hours, the Health Ministry in Gaza stated. It emphasized that many victims remain buried in rubble or left on the streets as ambulances and rescue teams struggle to reach them.
The Israeli offensive that began on October 7, 2023, has resulted in a devastatingly high cumulative toll of 63,025 fatalities and 159,490 injuries, as of August 29, 2025. Since March 18, 2025, 11,178 martyrs and 47,449 injuries have been added to the overall figures, illustrating a severe intensification of the war in the recent period.
