Israeli forces intensify operations in Gaza, causing significant civilian impact and raising international concerns.
By yourNEWS Media Staff
Israeli tanks have advanced into central and southern districts of Gaza, intensifying their offensive with substantial air and artillery support. This escalation comes as the conflict enters its 12th week. The primary areas of conflict include al-Bureij, Nuseirat, Maghazi, and Khan Younis, where intense air strikes have resulted in numerous Palestinian casualties.
In the past 24 hours, the bombardment has led to the death of 100 Palestinians and injured 150 in the central Gaza Strip, as reported by a senior health official. Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, a major medical facility in southern Gaza, is operating in challenging conditions, with ambulances navigating through damaged streets to bring in injured children.
Israel’s offensive, which began following a Hamas attack on October 7 that killed 1,200 people and resulted in the capture of 240 hostages, has led to widespread displacement. Almost all of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have been forced from their homes. The conflict has claimed the lives of at least 21,500 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s health authorities. There is a growing risk of the conflict spreading regionally, potentially involving Iran-aligned groups in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen.
The extensive bombardment has devastated residential areas, commercial buildings, and healthcare facilities. Recently, Israeli strikes damaged a medieval bathhouse and the old Great Mosque. Ziad, a medic in Maghazi, plans to evacuate with his family to Rafah, near the Egyptian border, fearing further Israeli assaults on Deir al-Balah.
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant stated that the military is targeting Hamas command centers and arms depots. The Israeli military announced the destruction of a tunnel complex beneath the home of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in Gaza City.
The United States has urged Israel to reduce the scale of the war and focus on targeted operations against Hamas leaders. Concurrently, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken authorized the sale of additional artillery shells and equipment to Israel without congressional review.
In humanitarian efforts, Israel coordinated with UNICEF to facilitate vaccine delivery into Gaza. Since the war’s onset, Israel has imposed a near-total blockade on Gaza, severely restricting the entry of food, medicine, and fuel. The Israeli government asserts that it does not limit humanitarian aid, attributing distribution issues to internal factors within Gaza.
Al-Bureij, Nuseirat, and Khan Younis, along with five other refugee camps in Gaza, normally receive services from the U.N. Relief and Works Agency. The agency supports Palestinians displaced during Israel’s creation in 1948.
South Africa has appealed to the International Court of Justice, seeking an urgent order against Israel for breaching the 1948 Genocide Convention in its operations in Gaza. Israel’s foreign ministry counters these allegations, blaming Hamas for the plight of Palestinians in Gaza.
In a separate incident, a Palestinian journalist working for Al-Quds TV was killed in an air strike on his home in the Nuseirat camp. Gaza’s government media office reports that 106 Palestinian journalists have been killed since the beginning of the Israeli offensive. The Committee to Protect Journalists noted that the conflict has been exceptionally deadly for journalists, with concerns about the targeting of media personnel by the Israeli military. An earlier Reuters investigation revealed that a Reuters journalist was killed by Israeli tank fire in Lebanon on October 13.
Amidst these developments, Israel maintains that it never intentionally targets journalists and endeavors to avoid civilian casualties. However, the high civilian death toll has raised concerns even among Israel’s staunch allies.