Tragic Incident in Gaza Claims Lives of Five Children
Tragedy unfolded in southern Gaza, known as al-Mawasi, when an attack resulted in the death of nine people, including five children. The victims were reportedly collecting water when the incident occurred. Al-Mawasi was previously declared a safe zone by Israel.
A heartbreaking image of the deceased children in a hospital, as well as a photo of blood-stained water containers at the site of the incident, has been shared by a local doctor.
Israeli Military Activity in Gaza
The attack happened just after the announcement encouraging people to evacuate Gaza City and head to al-Mawasi, in anticipation of the impending military invasion of Gaza City by Israel. The military aimed to clear the city of its residents before launching an operation, promising that southern Gaza would be a suitable refuge, despite differing expert opinions.
The Israeli military representative, communicating in Arabic, assured enhanced services, including access to medical care, water, and food in al-Mawasi. Despite this, the operation continued, with a significant number of reservists being mobilized.
Approximately 60,000 reservists are expected to be enlisted, with an additional 20,000's service being extended as the military activity in Gaza City, the last known stronghold of Hamas, escalates. The operation, dubbed "Gideon’s Chariots II", plans to seize control of Gaza City. This mission, involving five divisions from the country's standing army, could potentially stretch into the next year.
Continuing Conflict and Casualties in Gaza
Israel has already advanced into western Gaza City, reducing the once thriving neighborhood of Zeitoun to rubble and declaring the entire city a combat zone. The strikes have intensified, with claims of eliminating the spokesperson of Hamas's armed wing in an apartment building strike in Gaza City.
At least 76 people have lost their lives in the Gaza Strip due to Israeli strikes and gunfire in the last 24 hours. The global association of genocide scholars has stated that the actions of Israel in Gaza fulfill the legal definition of a crime. Aid groups have warned of the potentially devastating humanitarian consequences of an invasion of Gaza City and the forced displacement of nearly one million residents. The population of the city has ballooned over the last 23 months, as it has become a haven for displaced Palestinians.
Concerns Over Starvation and Displacement
The city is currently in the grip of a famine, worsened by Israeli restrictions on aid entering Gaza. This situation is expected to deteriorate further, even without a military operation. A shocking thirteen people, including three children, have died from malnutrition, bringing the total number of people who have starved to death to 361 – the majority of whom have died since July.
Despite the densely populated southern Gaza region, Palestinians are being encouraged to move there, as Israel plans to empty Gaza City of its residents before initiating a military operation. The head of the Red Cross expressed concerns over the feasibility and safety of a mass evacuation of Gaza City, given the lack of capacity in other parts of Gaza to accommodate such a large number of displaced people.
Many Gaza City residents are refusing to leave, wary of the situation in southern Gaza, especially after past attacks on the so-called humanitarian zones by Israel.
Internal Opposition and International Condemnation
The Gaza City operation, proposed by the Israeli prime minister under the pressure of far-right members of his ruling coalition, faces significant domestic resistance. Numerous Israelis have taken to the streets to protest against the war, criticizing its aimlessness and the potential risk it poses to the remaining hostages in Gaza.
Internal opposition within the country's cabinet and the military chief of staff has also been reported. The military chief urged the government to accept a ceasefire deal instead of proceeding with the Gaza City operation, emphasizing the possible danger to the lives of hostages in Gaza.
Hamas had agreed to a ceasefire proposal that resembled a previous US draft which Israel had approved in earlier negotiation rounds. However, Israel has yet to respond, leaving mediators perplexed.
The planned military operation in Gaza City and the ongoing systematic starvation of the territory's population has sparked global outrage. Belgium has joined the growing list of European countries recognizing Palestine as a state and banning goods from Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
This move is not to sanction the Israeli people but to ensure that their government respects international and humanitarian law and to initiate change in the current situation, as per the Belgian foreign minister. He suggested that the EU should suspend its trade pact with Israel to exert further pressure.
As the war in Gaza and the subsequent famine continue, Israel finds itself increasingly isolated internationally.