Growing fears of a regional war in Middle East

Israel pummeled Gaza on Tuesday but reached a deal with Hamas to deliver medicines to hostages and desperately needed aid to civilians in the war-torn Palestinian territory following Qatari and French mediation.

The war raging since October 7 has devastated the Hamas-ruled Palestinian territory, which is suffering a severe humanitarian crisis, and inflamed tensions across the Middle East.

Fears of a regional escalation have spiked, with Iran and its proxies stepping up attacks across the region in solidarity with Hamas.

The United Nations says the war has displaced roughly 85 percent of Gaza's 2.4 million people, many of whom have been forced to crowd into shelters and struggle to get food, water, fuel and medical care.

At least 24,285 Palestinians, about 70 percent of them women and children, have been killed in Gaza in Israeli bombardments and ground operations since October 7, according to the territory's health ministry.

Surrounded by warped metal, gutted buildings and overturned vehicles in central Gaza's Al-Maghazi refugee camp, Fatima al-Masry said Netanyahu would not succeed and must bear responsibility for the destruction.

As temperatures plunge, families living in makeshift tents in the southern city of Rafah have resorted to burning plastic to ward off the chill, despite the noxious fumes.