Gaza death toll rises past 54,900 as conflict deepens

The death toll in Gaza continues to rise, as Israeli forces killed 47 people and injured 388 within 24 hours, Gaza’s health ministry confirmed, according to Middle East Eye on June 9th.

Since October 2023, the conflict has resulted in 54,927 deaths and has has injured 126,615. Mourners gathered in Khan Younis on June 9th to bury victims of an attack near an Rafah aid distribution centre.

As the escalation of the Gaza conflict proceeds, the UK deployed a surveillance aircraft from RAF Akrotiri over Gaza on June 8th at 5:02pm, as an aid ship faced threats from Israel. The move coincided with rising tensions in the region, The National reported.

Following the crisis in Gaza, a senior UN official warned that up to 14,000 babies could die within 48 hours without urgent humanitarian aid, as Middle East Eye reported on May 20th and Maghrebi cited. Thousands of aid trucks remained blocked at the border, while only five trucks were allowed in.  Tom Fletcher, the UN humanitarian chief described this as a “drop in the ocean.”

Additionally, according to a report by Asharq Al-Awsat on June 4th, Fletcher condemned the worsening conflict in Gaza. He stated that “deliberate choices” have systematically deprived civilians of essential resources. His comments followed deadly incidents near aid centres, including the killing of 27 people near a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation site.

Fletcher described scenes of Palestinians being shot while trying to access food and called for immediate investigations. He demanded open crossings, unrestricted aid entry, and accountability for those responsible for the escalating humanitarian catastrophe.

Asharq Al-Awsat, Middle East Eye, The National, Maghrebi.org