In an unfortunate turn of events, witnesses reported that three Palestinians were killed on Saturday in an airstrike, which Israel's military claimed was targeting a Hamas commander in southern Gaza. This incident occurred less than a day after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Israel to take all necessary measures to prevent death, destruction, and acts of genocide in the besieged territory.

The ICJ's ruling has put Israel's military under increased scrutiny, as the top United Nations court has also requested a compliance report from Israel within a month. While the court did not explicitly call for a cease-fire in its binding ruling, its orders were, in part, a rebuke of Israel's conduct during the nearly four-month war against Gaza's Hamas rulers.

Concerns over Israel's actions have led to a further blow for the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, which has been primarily responsible for aiding Gaza's population in the midst of the ongoing humanitarian disaster. Several countries, including Britain, Italy, and Finland, have now suspended their funding to the agency following allegations that some of its Gaza staff members were involved in the October 7 Hamas attack that ignited the war. This decision joins the already imposed holds on aid from the United States, Australia, and Canada.

The Israel-Hamas conflict has had devastating consequences, resulting in the deaths of over 26,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials. The war has also caused significant destruction across the Gaza Strip and forced the displacement of nearly 85% of its population of 2.3 million people. In response to the Hamas attack in southern Israel, about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, lost their lives, and approximately 250 hostages were taken.

The Health Ministry in Gaza reported that at least 174 Palestinians were killed in the past day alone. Although the ministry does not differentiate between combatants and civilians in its tolls, it noted that around two-thirds of the casualties are women and children. Furthermore, more than 64,000 people have been wounded as a result of the conflict.

Israel has held Hamas responsible for the high number of civilian casualties, claiming that the militants often embed themselves within the local population. According to the Israeli military, its air and ground offensive in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of over 9,000 militants.

On Saturday, the Israeli military confirmed conducting targeted raids on terror targets in the southern city of Khan Younis. Additionally, the airstrike in Rafah was aimed at a Hamas commander, as stated by the Israeli military.

The airstrikes have been particularly devastating for the densely populated areas such as Rafah, which has accommodated over a million people seeking refuge as per Israel's military orders. However, these designated evacuation areas have consistently been subjected to airstrikes, with Israel claiming that it will target militants as necessary.

Amidst the ongoing violence and the ICJ's ruling, Bilal al-Siksik, who lost his wife, son, and daughter in the recent airstrike, expressed his skepticism towards the court's decision, stating that it did little to halt the war.

As the conflict persists in Gaza, the international community continues to advocate for peace and stability in the region, with hopes of minimizing civilian casualties and facilitating a viable resolution to the crisis.