August 5, 2025 | Gaza City
Israeli forces continued their intensified military campaign across the Gaza Strip on Monday, with at least 83 Palestinians killed, including 54 people shot while reportedly seeking humanitarian aid, according to health authorities in Gaza.
The strikes come amid growing speculation that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is considering a full military occupation of Gaza, a move that would mark a dramatic escalation in the nearly ten-month-long conflict.
In high-level meetings held with top security officials, including Army Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, Israeli media report that plans were discussed to expand the military offensive in stages, further fragmenting the strip into isolated sectors and exerting tighter control over civilian movement.
Aid Seekers Among the Dead
The heaviest loss of life came in central and northern Gaza, where large crowds had reportedly gathered near aid distribution points. Gaza’s Ministry of Health said that more than 50 people were fatally shot while attempting to access food and medical supplies, amid what humanitarian agencies have described as a worsening famine-like crisis.
Eyewitnesses at one site described scenes of panic and desperation as Israeli forces opened fire. “People were simply trying to collect flour and water,” said a local resident, who asked not to be named for security reasons. “They were unarmed. There were children.”
Rescue Operations at Breaking Point
The Palestinian Civil Defence has issued an urgent appeal to the United Nations and international organisations, stating that most of its rescue vehicles and equipment are no longer operational, leaving hundreds potentially trapped beneath rubble with no functioning means of emergency extraction.
“Our teams are receiving continuous distress calls,” a Civil Defence official said in a televised statement. “But we are no longer able to respond. We are pleading for urgent logistical and fuel support.”
Regional Tensions Grow
As fighting intensifies in Gaza, tensions continue to rise along Israel’s northern frontier with Lebanon. In a televised address, Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Naim Qassem issued a sharp warning to Israel, saying that any major offensive in Lebanon would provoke a massive missile barrage across Israel.
“We are not seeking war,” Qassem said. “But if Israel chooses escalation, they will face consequences they have not witnessed before.”
The ongoing violence has drawn renewed concern from humanitarian groups, diplomats, and regional powers, with repeated calls for an immediate ceasefire and protection of civilians.
Yet with no breakthrough in sight, the death toll continues to rise—and the humanitarian infrastructure in Gaza is rapidly approaching total collapse.
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