Gaza-Israel conflict: deepening concern for civilians amid ongoing strikes

The UN’s top emergency relief official unveiled a 10-point plan “to rein in the carnage” in Gaza on Wednesday which focuses on a major expansion of aid into into the wartorn enclave, along with a new call for humanitarian ceasefires and the release of hostages taken during Hamas’s 7 October terror attack on Israel.

UPDATED: Amid reports that 100,000 Palestinians have been told to leave Rafah ahead of an anticipated Israeli military operation there and that Hamas has accepted the latest Israeli ceasefire proposal, UN humanitarians on Monday insisted that they had no intention of quitting the vital aid hub.

Humanitarian operations in Gaza risked grinding to a halt on Wednesday due to the ongoing fuel blockade, while Israel continued to deal with a protracted hostage crisis amid the horrific aftermath of Hamas’ 7 October attacks.