Media Kampung – 23 Maret 2026 | Israel carried out an airstrike on Gaza on Sunday, killing four Palestinians and marking a renewed escalation despite a ceasefire mediated by the United States. The operation was launched from Israeli air bases and targeted locations that authorities said were used by militant groups.

Three of the fatalities were local police officers whose vehicle was hit in the Nuseirat refugee camp, according to the Palestinian health ministry. The fourth victim, identified as a senior member of a Fatah‑affiliated armed faction, died in a separate strike in the Sheikh Radwan district of northern Gaza.

At least ten other individuals sustained injuries in the Nuseirat attack, with many receiving treatment in overwhelmed field hospitals. Medical staff reported that the wounded include both civilians and members of the security forces.

Gaza’s Health Ministry announced that the cumulative Palestinian death toll has risen to 680 since the ceasefire began in October. Israel, for its part, confirmed that four of its soldiers were killed in the same timeframe, highlighting casualties on both sides.

The ceasefire, brokered by Washington, has failed to halt sporadic Israeli operations, including a drone strike in the Zeitoun area on Thursday that killed three civilians. Officials in Gaza described the attack as part of a pattern of targeted air raids that continue to breach the truce.

United Nations estimates place Palestinian casualties since the October 2023 escalation at more than 72,000, with women and children comprising the majority of the deaths. Independent analysts warn that limited access to conflict zones may mean the actual figure is considerably higher.

The ongoing siege has forced the majority of Gaza’s 2 million residents into overcrowded emergency shelters, where basic services are scarce. Reports indicate acute shortages of food, potable water, and functioning medical equipment, exacerbating the risk of disease outbreaks.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) highlighted that the Karem Abu Salem crossing is currently the only cargo corridor still operating between Israel and Gaza. Humanitarian groups argue that the limited capacity of this route hampers the timely delivery of essential aid.

Violence has also intensified in the occupied West Bank, where the UN recorded over 30,000 Palestinians displaced in the past week alone. The displacement surge reflects a broader pattern of settlement expansion and security operations that have disrupted civilian life.

UN special rapporteur Francesca Albanese released a damning report accusing Israel of systematic torture of detainees, citing instances of beatings, sexual violence, and starvation. She warned that these practices constitute a grave violation of international humanitarian law.

According to Albanese, more than 18,500 Palestinians have been arrested since October 2023, including approximately 1,500 children detained in military facilities. Human rights observers say many of the detainees have not been granted due process or access to legal representation.

The humanitarian situation remains precarious as aid deliveries struggle to keep pace with the growing needs of the population. International donors have called for an immediate expansion of safe corridors and a renewed push for a durable ceasefire.

The latest Israeli airstrike underscores the fragility of the current truce and the escalating cost to civilian life in Gaza. Stakeholders stress that renewed diplomatic engagement is essential to halt further bloodshed and to restore basic services for the affected communities.

Artikel ini dipublikasikan oleh Media Kampung.