A dire food shortage and ongoing Israeli strikes in Gaza have made for a somber start to Ramadan — normally a time of dawn-to-dusk fasting and celebration — after failure to agree on a cease-fire by the start of the Muslim holy month.
A ship loaded with desperately needed humanitarian aid has departed Cyprus for Gaza, as part of a maritime aid corridor announced by the United States and its allies last week.
The US says Israel has not yet presented a plan to protect civilians in its planned invasion of Rafah, as Israel’s self-imposed Ramadan deadline for invasion passes.
Amid a surge in Israeli attacks on Gaza, Jordan warns curbs imposed by Israel on worshippers’ access to Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem during Ramadan is pushing the situation towards an “explosion”.
UNRWA says “hunger is everywhere in Gaza” as Ramadan begins and reiterates calls for an “immediate ceasefire” during the holy month.
Ismail Haniyeh, head of Hamas’s political bureau, blames Israel for failing to reach a ceasefire deal before Ramadan, saying: “We don’t want an agreement that doesn’t end the war on Gaza.”
At least 31,045 Palestinians have been killed and 72,654 injured in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7. The revised death toll in Israel from Hamas’s October 7 attacks stands at 1,139, and dozens continue to be held captive.
