DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip - Israeli warplanes continue to bombard the Gaza Strip, targeting areas that were previously deemed safe zones for Palestinians. Frustration mounts as the United States vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution for an immediate humanitarian cease-fire and approved the emergency sale of tank ammunition worth over $100 million to Israel.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres conveyed his concerns to the council, stating that Gaza residents are being forced to relocate constantly, lacking the basic necessities for survival. With the borders effectively sealed, 2.3 million Palestinians have no option but to seek refuge within the 25-mile-long and 7-mile-wide territory.

Testimonies from released Palestinian men point to ill-treatment during their interrogations. Osama Oula, one of the freed individuals, described how they were bound with zip ties, beaten, and deprived of water for days. They were then released, barefoot and in their underwear, and instructed to walk south. The Israeli military did not respond to the allegations of abuse.

The death toll in Gaza has exceeded 17,700, with the majority being women and children, according to the Health Ministry in the Hamas-controlled territory. The ministry does not distinguish between civilian and combatant casualties. Over the past 24 hours, two hospitals in central and southern Gaza received the bodies of 133 people due to Israeli bombings.

Israel places the blame for civilian casualties on Hamas militants, accusing them of using civilians as human shields. Israel claims to have made significant efforts to evacuate civilians from harm's way, with 97 Israeli soldiers losing their lives in the ground offensive. Hamas, on the other hand, continues to launch rocket attacks into Israel.

Residents of Gaza reported ongoing airstrikes and shelling, including in the southern city of Rafah, which Israel had instructed civilians to evacuate to. The devastating effects are visible, with classrooms reduced to rubble and a deteriorating living environment for the population.

International pressure for a cease-fire has intensified, but the Biden administration opposes an open-ended cease-fire, citing concerns about Hamas. In a rare move, the administration has approved the emergency sale of nearly 14,000 rounds of tank ammunition to Israel worth over $106 million.

As the conflict persists, the situation in Gaza becomes increasingly dire. Food shortages are rampant, with residents reporting severe hunger. Limited amounts of aid are reaching Gaza, and the World Food Program describes the situation as alarming. A daily average of 100 trucks carrying aid is only a fraction of what was needed before the war.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey criticized the United States, stating that its stance on the conflict undermines support for human rights. In southern Gaza, thousands of Palestinians are on the run, seeking shelter after a night of heavy gunfire and shelling.

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens as Israeli airstrikes continue and basic necessities become increasingly scarce. The international community calls for a swift resolution to the conflict and the prioritization of humanitarian aid to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian population.