Recent events in Gaza highlight the ongoing conflict and its devastating consequences. According to Gaza's civil defence agency, an Israeli strike on a tent in Gaza City resulted in the deaths of five individuals from a single family. Relatives identified the victims as three children, their mother, and her husband. Omar Abu al-Kass, a family member, stated that the strike occurred "without warning and without having done anything wrong." The Israeli army has not yet responded to requests for comment on the incident, which took place amid the ongoing conflict that began in October 2023.

The conflict was initiated by Hamas's attack in October 2023, which resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people in Israel, primarily civilians. Subsequent Israeli retaliation has led to the deaths of at least 52,787 people in Gaza, with the majority also being civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry, a source considered reliable by the United Nations.

In related news, UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI), a UK-based advocacy group for Israel, has faced criticism for comments suggesting that a reduction in obesity due to the war in Gaza could potentially increase life expectancy in the region. These remarks, made amidst warnings of impending famine in Gaza, have been condemned as "sickening" by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC). Jonathan Turner, the chief executive of UKLFI, made these comments in response to a motion at the Co-operative Group’s annual general meeting, which called for the retailer to cease selling Israeli produce.

Turner criticized the motion's reference to an estimated death toll of 186,000, arguing that this figure, cited from a letter published by the Lancet, was "totally false and misleading" as it included projected indirect casualties. He further added that the Lancet letter did not account for factors that may increase average life expectancy in Gaza, noting that obesity was a significant health issue in Gaza prior to the war. A separate Lancet study, however, found that life expectancy in Gaza decreased by 34.9 years during the first 12 months of the war, about half (-46.3%) the prewar level of 75.5 years.

Ben Jamal, the director of the PSC, denounced Turner’s comments as repulsive, particularly given the growing risk of starvation, illness, and death faced by children in Gaza. Chris Doyle, the director of the Council for Arab-British Understanding (Caabu), echoed this sentiment, describing the comments as "atrocious views."

UKLFI has previously been involved in controversial actions, including prompting the removal of artwork by Palestinian children from Chelsea and Westminster hospital in London and threatening legal action against the UK government over its decision to suspend arms export licenses to Israel.

Turner defended his statements, asserting that they were accurate and objective within the context in which they were made. He clarified that his comments were aimed at highlighting the speculative nature of the 186,000 death toll claim and pointing out factors that might positively influence the lives of Gazans, such as a reduction in the availability of confectionery and cigarettes.