Brett McGurk says the administration was weighing what he called 'pretty draconian measures' after an Israeli strike killed seven World Central Kitchen aid workers in Gaza. An intelligence warning of an Iranian aerial assault — 120 ballistic missiles, 170 drones and 30 cruise missiles — forced a sudden change of course.
The UN says clearing more than 60 million tons of debris could take seven to ten years, and only 1.5 per cent has been removed. Israel's restrictions on heavy machinery and shelter supplies are slowing the effort further.
A New York Times investigation found Israeli forces have pushed past agreed withdrawal lines since the October 2025 truce. Netanyahu has said Israel plans to seize more territory and will not pull back without what he calls genuine disarmament.
The Gaza Ministry of Health has recorded 71,271 deaths since October 2023, but the figure excludes those buried under rubble, the missing, and others its system never captured. The ministry publishes no breakdown between civilians and combatants.
The UN Population Fund found families marrying off daughters in exchange for food. Six women in displacement camps reported cases of girls given away in marriage for something to eat.
The ICRC has been denied access to Palestinians held in Israeli facilities for more than a year, with talks on restoring visits still ongoing and no timetable given. Palestinian women at Damon Prison described being denied water, showers and medical care, while Israel's national security minister said reduced conditions were intentional.
The multistorey block had sheltered displaced families after being hit in an Israeli strike early in the war. About 400 buildings across Gaza are said to be at risk of collapse, with roughly 2,000 damaged structures still inhabited.
Type at least two characters.
