Israeli airstrikes on Gaza resulted in numerous fatalities as the conflict in the enclosed region escalates, contributing to an already dire humanitarian situation.

The Gaza health ministry reported that the bodies of 30 people killed in Israeli airstrikes reached al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City on Friday, labeling it a “challenging and harrowing day.”

At least 25 others were killed, and 50 more were injured in Israeli attacks on tents housing displaced Palestinians in al-Mawasi, near Rafah, in the southern area of the strip, according to the ministry.

In another instance, the Palestinian Civil Defence agency noted that teams transferred multiple casualties from Israeli shelling in the al-Shakoush area, northwest of Rafah.

Al Jazeera Arabic correspondent Ismail al-Ghoul indicated that Israeli forces targeted a garage belonging to the Gaza City municipality and a five-story building within the metropolitan area.

The health ministry added that at least 35 Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces over the previous 24 hours, raising the total death toll from the incursions to 37,431 since October 2023.

The humanitarian crisis was exacerbated by the ongoing Israeli blockade, pushing Gaza to the brink of famine.

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) announced on Friday that it might be forced to halt its activities in Gaza due to a severe lack of medical supplies.

“MSF faces critical shortages of essential medications and equipment, having been unable to import any medical supplies into Gaza since April's end,” the organization stated.

MSF specifically accused Israel of causing the predicament, citing its control and closure of the Rafah crossing as a significant factor. The crossing between Gaza and Egypt was a vital channel for humanitarian aid and personnel.

“The shutdown of Rafah crossing due to Israel’s south Gaza offensive earlier this May, coupled with the extensive bureaucracy imposed by Israeli authorities, has severely delayed the humanitarian aid flow through the operational Kerem Shalom [Karem Abu Salem] entry point,” MSF explained.

“These conditions have led to long truck queues and hazardous delays in humanitarian aid distribution across Gaza.”

‘Deliberate Attack on Civilians’

More than 270 humanitarian workers have been killed by Israeli assaults in Gaza since the conflict began in October, further complicating the provision of aid within Gaza.

Despite international warnings, Israel launched an offensive on Rafah in early May, displacing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians—many of whom had already escaped from other Gaza regions.

However, the United States, which had cautioned Israel against invading southern Gaza’s city, categorizes the Israeli assault as not being a “major” operation.

Friday's fatal strikes occurred two days after a UN-backed commission determined that Israel’s "deliberate" employment of heavy weaponry in Gaza amounts to an "intentional and direct attack on the civilian population."

In an interview with Punchbowl News on Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied allegations of targeting civilians, emphasizing the efforts of the Israeli military to avoid civilian casualties.

The interview drew criticism from various international journalists for its perceived lenient questioning approach.

In Gaza, Palestinian armed factions continue to operate, while Israel has only succeeded in rescuing a few hostages taken during Hamas’s October 7 attack, which resulted in over 1,100 Israeli deaths.

Early on Friday, Israel's military reported the deaths of two soldiers. Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad's armed groups later claimed responsibility for multiple assaults on Israeli forces.

Netanyahu stated that Israel aims for the “sustained demilitarization” of Gaza, followed by setting up a civil administration with “inter-Arab support and assistance from Arab nations.”

He added that efforts would include a deradicalization program in schools and mosques and a reconstruction process led mainly by the international community.