Violence escalates in Israel-Gaza conflict

-Humanitarian crises brewing in Gaza as Doctors Without Borders sends alarm over an imminent shortage of medical supplies due to closure of borders

Muslim Network TV Desk with inputs from Anadolu Agency

GAZA, Palestine – As the fourth day of fighting between Israel and Palestinian groups in Gaza culminates, the death toll continues to rise.

According to the Health Ministry in Gaza, Israeli bombings have killed 765 Palestinians, including 143 children and 105 women, while wounding over 4,000 others.

Conversely, the Israeli Health Ministry reported that Palestinian actions have resulted in the death of 900 Israelis, with an additional 2,600 injured.

The conflict commenced after Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood early Saturday.

Hamas cites the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem and increased settler violence as the reasons behind their sudden assault, which involved rocket fire and land, sea, and air infiltrations into Israel.

In response, the Israeli military launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Despite the Israeli army’s claims of targeting military sites linked to Hamas and Islamic Jihad, the Gaza-based Interior Ministry said Israeli strikes have been concentrated in civilian areas.

There are growing concerns about the magnitude of destruction across residential territories in the Gaza Strip due to the intensity of Israel’s bombings.

The airstrikes also resulted in the tragic deaths of two Palestinian journalists, identified as Saeed Al-Taweel and Mohammed Sobih.

Moreover, three more journalists were reportedly killed over the weekend while on duty in Gaza.

On Israel’s northern border with Lebanon, confrontations has also escalated.

An Israeli deputy commander, Alim Abdallah, was reportedly killed, though details surrounding his death remain unclear.

Palestinian militants from the Islamic Jihad group infiltrated Israel from Lebanon, resulting in Israeli artillery fire into southern Lebanon. In retaliation, Lebanon’s Hezbollah launched rockets and mortars at two Israeli army bases.

The U.N. Commission of Inquiry has expressed alarm, suggesting there is clear evidence pointing to possible war crimes by all involved parties.

The commission highlighted reports of unarmed civilians being gunned down and the use of human shields, deeming them war crimes.

The group is also deeply troubled by Israel’s proclaimed siege on Gaza, which involves withholding essential supplies, categorizing it as “collective punishment.”

Additionally, Human Rights Watch criticized Israel’s defense minister for pledging to deprive Gaza of food and electricity, labeling such statements as war crimes.

Amid the turmoil, Israel announced the mobilization of approximately 360,000 army reservists. The Israeli army has also advised Palestinians in Gaza to evacuate towards Egypt due to potential ground operations against Gaza.

Israel’s military spokesperson, Richard Hecht, asserted that Gaza’s parliament and civilian sectors are valid targets in their offensive against Hamas. He noted potential exceptions to prior warning targets before strikes, given the stretched capacities of Israel’s air force.

He further elaborated that any facility from which militants fire rockets would be considered a military target.

–Humanitarian crises

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has sent alarm over an imminent shortage of medical supplies in Gaza due to the closure of borders. Leo Cans, the head of MSF in Palestinian territories, highlighted a specific need for surgical equipment, bandages, antibiotics, and fuel.

MSF, working from Shifa Hospital in Gaza City and Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, had previously relied on the Kerem Shalom border crossing for supplies. MSF currently has 323 staff members in Gaza, including 23 international workers.

With continued airstrikes, the number of displaced individuals in Gaza is rising rapidly.

The United Nations agency dedicated to Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, reported that it is struggling to provide for the approximately 187,518 displaced Palestinians due to ongoing Israeli strikes.

Many of its facilities, including hospitals and schools throughout Gaza, have suffered damage in the clashes.

The agency currently shelters around 137,500 individuals in 83 schools across Gaza, which are now overcrowded. They are grappling to offer basic amenities like mattresses, clean water, cleaning supplies, and fuel jerrycans.

The UNRWA also noted the disruption of their operations in the region, with around half a million individuals not receiving food assistance this week due to the closure of distribution centers.

Infrastructure damage is severe with over 790 homes destroyed and 5,330 severely damaged, affecting a significant portion of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents. The damage to essential utilities has disrupted services for over 400,000 residents.

A senior Hamas official denied external influence or assistance in the recent incursion into Israel. He refuted claims of Iran or Hezbollah’s involvement in planning or endorsing the attack.

-International Responses

Outside the immediate conflict zone, concerns grow about the fighting’s wider implications.

Iraqi Foreign Minister, Fuad Hussein, expressed fears that the conflict might extend to neighboring nations and could persist for at least ten more days.

He voiced hope for international intervention to prevent further escalation and address the root of the Palestinian issue.

Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr appealed for Arab nations, especially Egypt, to aid Gaza by breaking the siege, providing water, and food.

Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, identified several Middle Eastern problems as being caused by the reluctance of the U.S. and its allies to uphold UN Security Council decisions.

He reiterated Russia’s commitment to establishing a Palestinian state, echoing UN resolutions.

The Russian ambassador to Israel reported two Russian casualties and four missing citizens in the ongoing conflict. No evidence is available yet supporting Hamas’ claims of having Russian hostages.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has reached out to various Arab leaders, emphasizing the necessity to stop the “Israeli aggression on Gaza.” Reports suggest that Arab nations, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and Qatar, are engaged in discussions to provide political support to the Palestinians.

Indian PM Narendra Modi thanked Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu for updates on the situation. Historically, India had favored the Palestinians during the Cold War, but diplomatic relations between India and Israel started in 1992. The relationship strengthened with Modi’s landmark visit to Israel in 2017.

French President Emmanuel Macron, post a discussion with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, emphasized no concrete evidence pointing towards Iran’s direct involvement in Hamas’ attack on Israel. However, Macron criticized countries, including Iran, that praised Hamas actions.