Israeli bombing turns 22,000 Palestinian homes into rubble, 1,500 dead

Israel’s bombardment has so far claimed the lives of nearly 1,500 Palestinians, including at least 270 children, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health

GAZA, Palestine – In an escalating crisis, Israel continued its fierce airstrikes on the Gaza Strip for the sixth consecutive day.

A resident of Beach refugee camp managed to share harrowing visuals of an Israeli strike that claimed 15 lives.

The refugee camp, one of the densest regions, was targeted without prior warning. People were seen using hands to remove rubble to recover dead bodies.

Israel’s campaign has so far claimed the lives of nearly 1,500 Palestinians, including a heart-wrenching count of at least 270 children, as reported by the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

Israel says it has dropped 6,000 bombs on Gaza, hitting 3,600 targets in the past six days.

The unyielding aerial bombardments have also resulted in over 338,000 Palestinians displaced in Gaza, according to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

The situation takes on a more distressing dimension with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) highlighting the plight of over 220,000 Palestinians who have sought shelter in its schools across Gaza.

The agency said that half a million people face severe food shortages due to the closure of the agency’s food distribution centers.

Adding to the regional complexity, tensions have overflowed into the West Bank.

Two Palestinians met a tragic end at the hands of Jewish settlers during a funeral procession.

Additionally, a military raid in Jenin by the Israeli army further strained the atmosphere.

Notably, as Israel masses troops near the Gaza border, concerns of a ground invasion loom large, while the frequency of rocket attacks by Hamas into Israel has seen a decline, possibly indicating strategic recalibrations.

-Antony Blinken visit

In an attempt to temper the rising tensions, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in tandem with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, emphasized Israel’s right to self-defense.

Yet, he also underscored the importance of protecting civilians.

Expressing his Jewish lineage, Blinken remained firm in his support for Israel, promising further military assistance, but also reminding Israel of its responsibility to avoid civilian casualties.

-Dwindling resources

Amid this, the Gaza Strip is grappling with dwindling resources.

Israel has severed essential supplies, including water, electricity, and fuel, intensifying the blockade in place since Hamas assumed control in 2007.

The critical state of healthcare in Gaza has been highlighted by the enclave’s sole power plant shutting down, pushing the medical services to the brink.

Addressing the dire humanitarian scenario, Fabrizio Carboni of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) cautioned that Gaza is teetering on the brink of a rapid humanitarian collapse.

Similarly, the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor has urgently appealed to the international community for a 24-hour humanitarian ceasefire.

Francesca Albanese, the U.N.’s special rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, depicted the calamity in Gaza, drawing attention to Israel’s move to cut essential supplies, which she classified as a war crime.

In this catastrophic environment, hospitals in Gaza are on the brink of collapsing.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has warned about the critical need for electricity to prevent hospitals from turning into morgues.

With the ongoing power crisis, essential life-saving equipment is rendered non-functional, further endangering lives.

Amid this chaos, ICRC is actively trying to bridge communication between Hamas and Israeli officials to facilitate humanitarian interventions.

-International reactions

In a surprising development, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman engaged in a conversation with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, underscoring the significance of preventing the conflict from spilling over.

This assumes significance as Israel Thursday intensified its military response by targeting Syrian airports in Damascus and Aleppo.

Recent activities on the Israel-Lebanon border have also been concerning, although both nations are currently attempting to rein in the hostilities.

Russia, following a Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) meeting, has vocalized its support for an immediate ceasefire and adherence to international humanitarian laws.

As the situation worsens, global leaders, including Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the UAE’s Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, have stressed the need for international intervention.

European Council President Charles Michel underscored the importance of respecting international humanitarian law and allowing basic supplies to reach the distressed civilians.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed support for mediation efforts by Türkiye, Egypt, and Qatar in the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas on Thursday.

Scholz identified the potential pivotal roles of these nations in achieving peace.

Scholz conveyed during his parliamentary address, “All three can play an important role in mediating and de-escalating the current situation.”

He also highlighted his close communication with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, citing al-Sisi’s effective communication channels with Gaza.

Scholz is also scheduled to hold discussions with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, emphasizing Qatar’s significant mediation role.