Food crisis and rising deaths in Gaza; Israeli military plans to recruit foreign soldiers

Gaza’s Ministry of Health reported that in the past 24 hours, five Palestinians have died due to unsanitary food conditions, including two children. Amnesty International has accused Israel of “deliberately starving” the people of Gaza.

Meanwhile, Israel has intensified its attacks on Gaza’s largest city. Since early Monday, at least 11 people have been killed across the Gaza Strip in Israeli strikes, including four who were seeking aid.

In addition, the Israeli military is planning to recruit young men and women from abroad to fill troop shortages. According to Army Radio, the Israeli military currently faces a deficit of 10,000 to 12,000 soldiers, largely because ultra-Orthodox Jewish (Haredi) youth are not participating in mandatory military service. The Haredi community devotes their lives entirely to Torah study and religious practices.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s proposal to grant broad exemptions to Haredi youth has already sparked controversy. Opposition parties and some coalition members have criticized the proposal as discriminatory.

The military plans to specifically recruit young men and women from major Jewish communities in the United States and France, which would help add roughly 700 new soldiers each year.

Besides troop shortages, Israel’s armed forces are also facing equipment deficits and mental and physical strain among reserve soldiers due to prolonged combat.