Israel continues to bomb Gaza Strip, over 1,000 dead, severe humanitarian crisis

Israeli forces bomb an ambulance, killing three medics. The World Health Organization condemns this as a war crime

Muslim Network TV Desk with inputs from Anadolu Agency

GAZA, Palestine – Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip continued for the fifth consecutive day, and the death toll now exceeds 1,000 Palestinians.

The United Nations has warned of a “catastrophic” humanitarian crisis as hospitals are overwhelmed with injuries and essential supplies are running low.

According to Gaza health services, 5,184 people have been injured so far.

Israel has also been accused of using banned white phosphorus in its attacks. The situation in the region remains tense, and there is a risk of an Israeli ground invasion.

On Tuesday, Israeli forces fired on a Palestinian ambulance, killing three medics. This incident drew international condemnation, with the World Health Organization calling it a “war crime.”

Nine U.N workers have also lost lives by Israeli bombing.

In a heartbreaking incident in Beit Hanoun, a woman mourned her daughter and her entire family who were killed in a targeted attack on her home.

Another resident, Amir al-Zaanin, reported on the extensive bombing in the area, pointing out that victims were buried under rubble and could not be reached.

Residents recall the destruction during the 50-day Israeli assault on Gaza in 2014, but claim that this time they feel even more intense because of the lack of evacuation.

In a controversial statement, former Israeli General Giora Eiland said that Israel should create a severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza as a strategic measure.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health has pointed to the strain on Gaza’s health system caused by the constant attacks and power outages. Hospitals such as the al-Shifa Medical Complex are at full capacity, and some describe the dire situation as “public graveyards”

The only power plant in Gaza is out of service, reportedly because Israel cut off the power supply, leaving the region without electricity.

This has led to health problems such as the spread of diseases like scabies. In addition, many Palestinians are silenced by the lack of electricity because their devices can no longer be charged.

The World Health Organization reported that supplies for seven hospitals in Gaza have been depleted due to the increasing number of wounded.

In the face of continued bombardment, many people have sought refuge in overcrowded schools, where there is a shortage of essentials such as water and food.

They fear that disease will spread under these conditions, especially since essential supplies are in limited supply. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has warned that supplies could be exhausted in less than 10 days.

Several Palestinian families have died in these attacks, and Israeli forces reportedly have not issued warnings before bombing residential areas.

The practice of families gathering in a single dwelling to find solace has unfortunately led to a higher number of casualties when such buildings are attacked.

-Israel commits war crimes

Humanitarian organizations are calling for the establishment of safe corridors for the delivery of aid to Gaza as hospitals, overflowing with injured, face dwindling supplies.

Israel has halted the flow of food, fuel, and medicine into Gaza, leaving many residents without shelter during the bombardments.

Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced tougher measures for Gaza, calling Palestinians “human animals” and emphasizing the closure of key services.

Since 2008, Israel has conducted four major operations against Gaza, causing significant civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure.

This week, Israeli forces attacked the headquarters of the Palestinian Telecommunications Company, severely disrupting communications services for residents.

A Jerusalem-based nonprofit organization has branded Israeli actions in Gaza since the surprise weekend incursion by the Palestinian group Hamas a war crime.

Karim Jabran, spokesman for the B’Tselem organization, which documents human rights abuses in the occupied Palestinian territories, told Anadolu that Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant’s explicit declaration to cut off Gaza’s supply of water, electricity, fuel and other vital goods “amounts to “a full-fledged war crime”

He said Gaza is in constant need of daily supplies, and blocking humanitarian aid, medical supplies, water and electricity to the bombed people is another form of murder and extermination.

Jabran said that there are many displaced people in the Gaza Strip who have no shelters and cannot seek protection from airstrikes.

The spokesman said, “One crime can never legitimize another; despite condemning the incident, this does not give Israel a green light to commit war crimes against innocent citizens in Gaza.”

-Hamas denies attacks on children

The Hamas resistance group, which launched an unprecedented attack on Israel on Saturday, has denied claims that it killed civilians, including children.

“We categorically confirm the falsity of the fabricated claims spread by some Western media outlets that unprofessionally adopt the Zionist narrative full of lies and slanders against our Palestinian people and their resistance, the most recent of which was the claim of killing, beheading children and targeting civilians,” the group said in a statement also posted on its website.

The statement criticized the “unchecked adoption and support of the Zionist narrative” ” and warned of the consequences of covering up “the “crimes of the occupation and its massacres committed day and night in Gaza”

It acknowledged that “Al-Qassam Brigades worked to attack the Israeli military and security systems” in Operation Al-Aqsa Flood and described them as “legitimate targets”

The group added that its members “tried to avoid civilians, as witnessed by many video clips from the field, and many settlers spoke to the media with video evidence of this.”

Hamas called on the media to “maintain objectivity and professionalism and “not blatantly and blindly adopt” the Israeli narrative.

Since the beginning of the recent conflict, several media outlets have reported that Hamas members beheaded Israeli children. However, an Israeli army spokesman could not confirm this to Anadolu. He said, “We have seen this news, but we have no details or confirmation of it.”

-International reactions

The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) has called for international intervention to stop the aggression and provide aid.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza, calling them a “massacre.” He stressed that there is a moral code even in war, which he believes Israel has violated in this conflict. In addition, the Gaza Energy Authority announced an imminent blackout due to a shortage of fuel, a situation that has been exacerbated by Israel’s disruption of supplies of essential goods.

Pope Francis expressed concern over the total siege of Gaza and said the Middle East does not need war, but peace, the official Vatican news agency reported Wednesday.

“I pray for the families who have seen a day of celebration turned into a day of mourning and ask for the immediate release of the hostages,” the pontiff said during his general audience, the agency added.

He called on both sides to exercise restraint, stressing, “Terrorism and extremism do not contribute to a solution to the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, but fuel hatred, violence and revenge and cause suffering on both sides.”

“The Middle East does not need war, but peace, a peace built on justice, dialogue and the courage of fraternity,” the Pope said.