Gaza Stampede Highlights Severe Food Crisis

In Gaza, a severe food crisis has led to the tragic deaths of two children and a woman, who were crushed in a stampede while trying to buy bread at a bakery in Deir al-Balah. This incident highlights the dire situation in Gaza, where food supplies have plummeted to the lowest levels in 14 months due to ongoing conflict, leaving the majority of the population dependent on humanitarian aid. Some bakeries had previously closed due to flour shortages, intensifying desperation among residents. The International Criminal Court has accused Israeli leaders of using starvation as a weapon in their conflict with Hamas, amid calls for increased aid to the region. Meanwhile, a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah has allowed some displaced Lebanese to return home, though many found their neighborhoods destroyed by airstrikes. The broader conflict, ignited by Hamas's attack on Israel in October 2023, continues to have devastating impacts across the region.