Gaza Conflict Escalates, Humanitarian Crisis Deepens

Gaza's healthcare system has collapsed after 18 months of war between Israel and Hamas, with Dr. Wissam Sukkar, a GP, describing life as "a nightmare that doesn't end". The UN's World Health Organization says only 21 of Gaza's 36 hospitals are partially functional, and medical supplies are critically low. Dr. Sukkar works at an MSF clinic, where she sees nearly 390 patients a day, mostly displaced people with malnutrition, diseases, and injuries. The clinic is struggling to cope with the influx of patients and lacks essential medicines, including insulin and antibiotics. Dr. Sukkar says she struggles to secure clean water and food for her own children and feels hopeless as the war continues with no end in sight.

Protests against KFC branches in Pakistan have turned violent, resulting in the death of a 45-year-old KFC staff member, Asif Nawaz, who was shot during a protest in Sheikhupura. The protests were sparked by anger over the war in Gaza, with demonstrators claiming KFC is a symbol of the US and its ally Israel. At least 20 attempted attacks on KFC outlets were recorded across the country, with two stores set on fire in Karachi. Pakistan's Minister of State for the Interior, Talal Chaudhry, condemned the violence, stating that most KFC vendors are Pakistani and profits go to Pakistanis. The police have made 40 arrests so far, but the main suspect in Nawaz's killing remains at large. Influential figures in Pakistan, including the Islamist party Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan and Sunni scholar Mufti Taqi Usmani, have condemned the war in Gaza and encouraged a boycott of products linked to it, but have also urged protesters to avoid violence.

A new documentary, "The Children of October 7," shares the stories of young survivors of Hamas' October 7 terror attack on Israel. The film features interviews with children, including Yael Idan and Rotam Mattias, who witnessed the killing of family members and were taken hostage. Filmmaker Montana Tucker, a singer and social media activist, conducted the interviews just before the one-year commemoration of the attack, which killed over 1,200 people, including 37 children. The documentary showcases the bravery and resilience of the children and is set to stream on Paramount+ on April 23.

Israeli strikes on Gaza have killed over 90 people in 48 hours, including women and children, some in designated humanitarian zones. The dead were killed in various areas, including Khan Younis and Rafah city, with many displaced people living in tent camps. Israel has intensified attacks on Gaza, blockading the territory and preventing food and aid from entering, leading to widespread malnutrition among children and a dire humanitarian situation. The war, which began with a Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, has killed over 51,000 Palestinians and displaced 90% of Gaza's population.

A photo of 9-year-old Mahmoud Ajjour, a Palestinian boy who lost both arms in an Israeli strike on Gaza City in March 2024, has won the 2025 World Press Photo of the Year award. The image, taken by Samar Abu Elouf for The New York Times, shows Ajjour with his arms missing just below each shoulder. The photo was selected from 59,320 entries submitted by 3,778 photographers from 141 countries, and is described as a "quiet photo that speaks loudly" about the impact of war on civilians, particularly children.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue the war in Gaza, despite growing opposition at home, saying Israel has "no choice" but to keep fighting "for our very own existence until victory." Netanyahu's statement comes amid protests and opposition to the ongoing military campaign, with thousands of Israeli military reservists and retirees calling for a ceasefire deal to return the remaining 59 hostages. A recent poll showed nearly 70% of Israelis support a deal to return the hostages, even if it means ending the war. Netanyahu's comments were criticized by the Hostage Families Forum, which said he has "no plan" to bring back the hostages.

Hamas is facing a financial crisis amid Israel's ongoing military campaign in Gaza, with salary payments to many government employees ceasing and senior officials receiving only half pay. Despite this, experts say Hamas is unlikely to collapse due to its ideological motivation and ability to adapt. The group has survived financial crises before and has found ways to circumvent sanctions, including exploiting black market activities and taxes on merchants. Protests against Hamas have begun to emerge in Gaza, with some calling for an end to the group's rule, but Hamas has responded violently, crushing dissent. The financial squeeze may complicate Hamas' operations but is unlikely to lead to its collapse.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that Israeli troops will remain in the buffer zones in Gaza even after the war ends. The buffer zones, which make up 30% of the Gaza strip, will be maintained as a security measure between Israel and Gaza. Katz compared the IDF's presence to its presence in Lebanon and Syria. Hamas has rejected an Israeli-proposed ceasefire deal that would see the return of nearly a dozen hostages held captive for over 550 days, citing demands for a full withdrawal and lifting of the blockade.

More than 90 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli strikes in Gaza over the past 48 hours, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. The dead include women and children who were sheltering in a designated humanitarian zone in Khan Younis, and a mother and daughter killed in a separate strike on Rafah. Israel has vowed to intensify its attacks on Gaza to pressure Hamas to release hostages and disarm, and has blockaded the territory, restricting the entry of food and other goods, exacerbating a severe humanitarian crisis.

A Sky News investigation into Israel's attack on aid workers has revealed new evidence contradicting Israel's official account of the incident. On March 15, 15 aid workers were killed, including a UN worker, paramedics from the Palestine Red Crescent Society, and first responders from Civil Defence. Israel claimed its troops suspected the vehicles contained Hamas operatives. However, video footage from the phone of paramedic Rifaat Radwan, who was killed in the attack, and other evidence gathered by Sky News, contradict Israel's narrative. The footage shows the aid workers being fired upon without warning, with Rifaat reciting the Muslim Shahada before the recording ends. Additional audio obtained by Sky News reveals continued gunfire and shouting after the initial attack, with paramedic Ashraf Abu Labda's last recorded words indicating the presence of Israeli soldiers. Another paramedic, Assad al Nsasrah, was alive and on the phone with the dispatch centre as late as 5.54am, expressing fear and concern for his children, before being arrested by Israeli soldiers. Israel has since confirmed Assad is alive and in detention, but has not provided an explanation, and the International Committee of the Red Cross has been refused permission to check on his condition.