Hamas has urged the United Nations to intervene as Israel’s assault on Gaza intensifies, leaving dozens dead in a single day and entire families buried under rubble. Gaza City has been hit hardest, with residents describing the destruction as “apocalyptic”, Al Jazeera reported.

The humanitarian crisis is deepening. Aid agencies report famine spreading, with more than 360 Palestinians — including 131 children — already dead from hunger. UNICEF warns over 130,000 young children face severe malnutrition, while nearly a million people risk further displacement.

Hamas says it is ready for a ceasefire and prisoner swap, but Israel demands captives’ release and Hamas’s disarmament before any truce.

Global criticism is growing. Spain’s leader has accused Israel of genocide, Scotland is halting funds to arms firms tied to Israel, and the UAE has warned against annexing the West Bank. Utrecht University in the Netherlands has also launched an academic boycott of Israeli institutions, according to Al Jazeera.