In the midst of an ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, the Israeli military has announced the capture of Hamas' former headquarters in Gaza City. However, the conflict continues to rage further south in Gaza, exacerbating the dire situation for civilians. United Nations relief agencies have reported that approximately 90% of the population in the Palestinian territory has been displaced, leaving nearly 2 million men, women, and children in a state of uncertainty and desperation.

The U.N. World Food Program (WFP) has revealed that nearly all residents in Gaza are now going without food for days at a time, with half of the displaced Palestinians suffering from starvation. Abeer Etefa, spokesperson for the WFP, witnessed a heartrending scene where a family resorted to dividing a loaf of bread into small pieces resembling croutons. She emphasized the unparalleled suffering endured by the children in Gaza, calling for an immediate cease-fire and increased humanitarian aid.

Echoing Etefa's plea, Philippe Lazzarini, head of the U.N.'s relief agency for Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank (UNRWA), expressed deep frustration and disappointment at the failure of global powers to negotiate a new cease-fire. Lazzarini, who arrived in Gaza from Egypt on Monday, stressed the urgent need for a major increase in humanitarian aid. The UNRWA reported that at least 134 of its staff members have been killed in Gaza since the war's initiation on Oct. 7.

The flow of aid into Gaza has been severely hampered by the ongoing conflict, leaving a vast disparity between the limited number of trucks permitted to enter the enclave and the immense needs of the population. Lazzarini called for the reopening of Israel's Kerem Shalom crossing south of Rafah, citing its exceptional inspection capabilities and prior effectiveness in processing hundreds of trucks daily.

Amidst these challenges, UNRWA warned that their operations were on the verge of collapse, with the cessation of their assistance leading to an unimaginable collapse of essential humanitarian aid relied upon by the majority of Gaza's population.

In a parallel development, U.N. ambassadors, on an informal trip sponsored by the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, visited the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing. They emphasized the critical insufficiency of a single border crossing and advocated for sustained access through multiple routes, including the sea route. The ambassadors' visit coincided with the General Assembly's upcoming vote on a non-binding resolution calling for a cease-fire, mirroring the resolution previously vetoed by the U.S. in the Security Council.

Meanwhile, despite mounting calls for a new cease-fire, Israel continued its military operation, vowing to destroy Hamas. On Monday, an Israeli airstrike demolished a family home in Khan Younis, southern Gaza. Nasser hospital, the largest medical facility in southern Gaza, struggled to cope with the influx of casualties, including parents and children who had fled their homes in accordance with Israel military's instructions.

The Ministry of Health in Hamas-ruled Gaza reported that 208 people were killed in Israeli strikes on Monday alone, with many others trapped beneath the rubble of destroyed buildings. Since the war's initiation on Oct. 7, the ministry documented over 18,000 fatalities in the Palestinian territory, without distinguishing between civilian and militant deaths.

In Israel, anguish and anxiety persist, as citizens mourn the loss of fallen soldiers and bear the constant threat of rocket fire from Gaza. Despite Israel's offensive, Hamas remains capable of hitting the country, launching attacks on a daily basis.