Palestinians in Gaza are reacting to a possible shift in the world's attention away from the Israel-Hamas ceasefire to a new regional conflict with Iran. Israel closed all crossings into the territory of over 2 million people in the wake of its new strikes on Tehran. The Israeli military body overseeing civilian affairs in Gaza said it closed the crossings because they cannot not be safely operated under fire. It said crossings would reopen as soon as the security situation allows. Palestinians fear new lack of access to food and other basic necessities from the outside world. Memories of hunger during last year's Israeli blockade remain fresh. The latest conflict comes days after U.S. President Donald Trump rallied billions of dollars in pledges for Gaza's reconstruction.

Israeli ground troops for the first time have pushed into areas of a central Gaza city where several aid groups are based. An Israeli military official on Monday confirmed the incursion that appears to be the latest effort to carve up the Palestinian territory with military corridors. Deir al-Balah is the only Gaza city that has not seen major ground operations or suffered widespread devastation in 21 months of war. That has led to speculation that the Hamas militant group holds large numbers of hostages there. The main group representing hostages' families said it was "shocked and alarmed" by the incursion.

Top church leaders have visited Gaza after its only Catholic church was struck by an Israeli shell the day before. The attack Thursday killed three people and wounded 10, including a priest who had developed a close friendship with the late Pope Francis. The strike drew condemnation from the pope and U.S. President Donald Trump, and prompted a statement of regret from Israel, which said it was a mistake. Since ending a ceasefire in March, Israel has regularly launched far deadlier strikes across Gaza against what it says are Hamas militants, frequently killing women and children. Strikes killed 18 people overnight, health officials said Friday.

An Israeli shell slammed into the compound of the only Catholic church in the Gaza Strip, killing three people and wounding 10 others, including the parish priest, according to church officials. The late Pope Francis, who died in April, had regularly spoken to the priest about the situation in the war-ravaged territory. The shelling of the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza on Thursday also damaged the church compound, where hundreds of Palestinians have been sheltering from the 21-month Israel-Hamas war. Israel expressed regret over what it described as an accident and said it was investigating. Pope Leo XIV renewed his call for an immediate ceasefire in response to the attack.

The U.N. reports that child malnutrition in Gaza has doubled since Israel restricted food entry in March. By June, over 10% of children under age five screened by UNRWA were acutely malnourished, compared to 5.5% in March. UNICEF also documented a sharp rise in cases. Israel eased the blockade slightly in May, but aid remains insufficient. Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes have killed over 90 Palestinians in 24 hours, including women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. Strikes on homes and shelters have caused significant casualties. Efforts to negotiate a ceasefire have stalled, with no breakthrough after recent U.S.-Israel talks.