Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem has condemned what he described as international inaction following the death of a young Palestinian girl in Khan Yunis after an Israeli airstrike struck tents sheltering displaced families and reportedly set them on fire.

In a press statement issued on Monday, Qassem said the child's death reflects the broader humanitarian toll of the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip, where thousands of civilians, including large numbers of children, have been killed or injured since the conflict began.

According to Qassem, the young girl was among civilians affected by an Israeli attack targeting makeshift shelters for displaced Palestinians in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza. The strike reportedly ignited fires that spread through the tent camp, causing casualties and widespread panic among families seeking refuge from ongoing military operations.

The Hamas spokesperson argued that the incident forms part of a larger pattern of suffering experienced by Palestinian children throughout the war. He claimed that children have died as a result of bombardment, food shortages, lack of medical care, psychological trauma, and the loss of family members amid the continuing conflict.

Qassem sharply criticized what he described as the failure of the international community to take meaningful action to halt the war or protect civilians. He said the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has continued to worsen despite repeated reports of civilian casualties and the destruction of residential areas and displacement shelters.

The Hamas official also directed criticism toward regional institutions and political actors, including the Arab League, political parties, parliamentary bodies, religious scholars, intellectuals, and the Palestinian Authority based in Ramallah. He accused them of failing to take effective measures in response to the ongoing situation in Gaza.

Qassem stated that silence in the face of civilian suffering carries both political and moral consequences, urging greater efforts to stop the conflict and provide protection for Palestinian civilians.

His remarks came amid continuing military operations across the Gaza Strip, where humanitarian organizations have repeatedly warned of deteriorating living conditions, widespread displacement, and growing challenges in accessing food, healthcare, and essential services.

The latest incident in Khan Yunis has renewed calls from Palestinian factions and humanitarian groups for increased international intervention to protect civilians and address the escalating humanitarian crisis in the besieged territory. (ILKHA)