By yourNEWS Media Staff
Israel announced on Thursday that humanitarian exceptions to the ongoing siege on the Gaza Strip would not be made unless all Israeli hostages are freed. This statement came in response to a plea from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to permit fuel entry to prevent overwhelmed hospitals from “turning into morgues”.
The Hamas group in the Gaza Strip is held responsible by Israel for the most lethal assault on Jewish civilians since the Holocaust. This attack saw hundreds of militants breach the barrier fence, leading to a violent rampage through Israeli towns last Saturday. Since this incident, the Israeli death count has increased to over 1,300, the majority being civilians. Kan, the public broadcaster, reported that numerous Israelis and foreign nationals were abducted to Gaza, with Israel having identified 97 of these hostages.
Recent discoveries have brought to light the true extent of the violence. As Israeli forces regained control of towns, they found homes filled with deceased victims, including women who had faced sexual violence and children who were brutally murdered.
In retaliation, Israel has placed a complete siege on Gaza, where 2.3 million residents live. They have also launched the most severe bombing campaign witnessed in the 75-year-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict, resulting in extensive destruction. Local Gaza authorities report over 1,200 deaths and 5,000+ injuries due to these bombings. Furthermore, the only electric power station in Gaza has been deactivated, leading hospitals to run on limited fuel from emergency generators.
The ICRC voiced concerns over the rapidly depleting fuel that powers these emergency generators, emphasizing the dire human consequences of this. ICRC regional director, Fabrizio Carboni, said, “The human misery caused by this escalation is abhorrent… As Gaza loses power, hospitals lose power, putting newborns in incubators and elderly patients on oxygen at risk.”
Israeli Energy Minister, Israel Katz, firmly stated that the siege would remain unless all hostages are returned. His statement on social media platform X was clear: “Humanitarian for humanitarian. And nobody should preach us morals.”
Despite the ongoing siege and bombings, no decision has been made regarding a ground assault on Gaza. However, Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Hecht, a military spokesperson, mentioned that preparations were in progress.
This conflict has significantly impacted diplomacy within the region. As Israel was on the brink of normalizing relations with Saudi Arabia, this war has interrupted such progress, especially following Riyadh’s renewed ties with Iran, which supports Hamas. Iran has applauded the attacks by Hamas but denies orchestrating them. In a show of strength and caution, U.S. President Joe Biden has moved military assets closer to Israel as a warning for Iran to refrain from the conflict.
U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, arrived in Israel on Thursday. His visit aims to express support for Israel, avert the war from widening, and advocate for the release of hostages, including Americans. He is also scheduled to meet with King Abdullah in Jordan and Mahmoud Abbas, leader of the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, on Friday.
While the Israeli government has unified under the leadership of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the war has disrupted peace in the region, highlighting the need for immediate diplomatic interventions and resolutions.