Gaza’s humanitarian crisis deepens as starvation-related deaths surge, with hospitals reporting seven fatalities—including two children—due to hunger or malnutrition in a single 24-hour period ending September 13, local time. The Palestinian official news agency WAFA confirmed the toll, pushing the total number of Gaza residents killed by hunger or malnutrition to 420, among whom 145 are children.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned in late August that the scale of death and destruction in Gaza is “unprecedented in recent history.” “Famine is not an imminent threat—it is an ongoing disaster. People are dying of hunger. Pregnant women face unimaginable risks. Food, water, and medical systems have been systematically destroyed,” he emphasized. Guterres renewed calls for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, and the unconditional release of all detained persons.
WAFA’s latest news also show that since the new round of Israel-Palestine conflict erupted on October 7, 2023, Israeli military operations in Gaza have killed 64,803 Palestinians and injured 164,264 others.
IDF Launches Next Phase of “Gideon’s Chariot 2”
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on September 12 that its “Gideon’s Chariot 2” operation in Gaza City has entered the “next phase,” with over 500 targets linked to Palestinian armed groups hit.
In a statement, the IDF said it continues “large-scale strikes” on infrastructure used by Palestinian armed groups and high-rise buildings converted into military facilities. The strike zones cover Daraj Tuffah, Furkan, and Shatti areas. The military added that it has dismantled observation posts, sniper positions, tunnel-equipped buildings, and weapons storage facilities belonging to Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement.
The IDF vowed to step up targeted strikes based on precise intelligence. Prior to this, on August 8, Israel’s Security Cabinet approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to “defeat Hamas,” under which the IDF prepared to take control of Gaza City. The move sparked opposition and condemnation both domestically and internationally.
Houthi Rebels Target Israel with Hypersonic Missile
Yemen’s Houthi armed forces carried out a military operation against “sensitive targets” in Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel, on September 13, local time, according to Turkey’s Anadolu Agency (AA).
Yahya Saree, military spokesman for the Houthis, stated that the attack used a multi-warhead “Palestine-2” hypersonic ballistic missile and “successfully achieved its objectives.” The IDF confirmed it intercepted a missile launched from the direction of Yemen the same day.
Israel’s Times of Israel reported that air defense sirens sounded in multiple parts of Israel amid the missile launch. No casualties or property damage have been reported so far.
