A multitude of Palestinians found themselves in need of refuge on the past Wednesday, having been forced to vacate their homes in southern Gaza. They grappled with scarce water resources, as Israel remained aggressive in their military campaign in the heavily populated region.
Further military action by Israeli forces occurred in the southern locale of Rafah, leading to violent confrontations with Palestinian militants, as reported by local inhabitants. According to health authorities, at least 12 individuals lost their lives due to recent Israeli strikes in the central and northern areas of Gaza.
Israel’s higher authorities have unveiled their intentions to deescalate intensive battles against Hamas, a Muslim political group that has administered Gaza since 2007. Their plan is to move towards more calculated operations in the course of the near nine-month-long Gaza conflict.
However, violent clashes carried on undeterred in two key parts of Rafah, where Israeli tanks have managed to capture various districts and push onwards to the western and northern areas of the city in recent times. Growing apprehensions exist over the fate of the large numbers of Palestinians left without homes.
The Israeli armed forces reaffirmed that their operations in Rafah are based on tangible intelligence and are specifically targeted, leading to the destruction of several military installations and the elimination of Palestinian militants.
Reports from Hamas’ militant wing allege that they successfully fired upon two Israeli tanks positioned west of Rafah and launched mortar bombs at Israeli troops in Shejaia, on the east side of Gaza City located within the heart of the enclave.
An ally group of Hamas, Islamic Jihad’s armed faction, claims they bombarded an Israeli military bulldozer in Rafah and propelled shots at Israeli army outposts to the east of Shejaia.
In the Maghazi refugee settlement in central Gaza, five Palestinians succumbed to injuries resulting from two Israeli air strikes, as confirmed by health authorities. In Shejaia, another air strike took four lives and injured 17, as per medical sources.
Moreover, another air strike targeted a car in the southern area of Deir Al-Balah, causing three fatalities. The city of Deir Al-Balah is densely packed with Palestinians who fled from disruption in other parts of Gaza. Inhabitants of the city are dealing with a severe lack of potable water and escalating costs of basic provisions.
The conflict in Gaza kicked off when Hamas assaulted southern Israel on October 7th, resulting in an estimated 1,200 fatalities and about 250 kidnapped civilians and soldiers who were taken to Gaza, based on Israeli counts.
A Palestinian hospital director claims prisoners in Israel are being subjected to torments.[sic]
Israel’s aggressive act of retaliation geared towards eradicating Hamas has resulted in the death of about 38,000 individuals, the Gaza health ministry reported. This has left the densely populated coastal strip in ruins. Attempts at internationally mediated negotiations have yet to yield a long-lasting ceasefire.
The United States, despite that, has retained its firm backing for Israel throughout the conflict. Notwithstanding, President Joe Biden has intermittently expressed apprehensions about Israel’s behaviour. On Tuesday, following an announcement from a White House representative, it was anticipated that Biden would convene a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, in late July during Netanyahu’s visit to address the US Congress.
The Gaza health ministry claimed that an Israeli air assault on a dwelling in Khan Younis, a city in the south, resulted in the death of Hassan Hamdan, the head of the burns and plastic surgery department at the Nasser Medical Complex, and all his relatives. Neither commentaries from the Israel’s armies nor verification from Reuters were promptly available in response to the ministry’s announcement.
The Gaza European Hospital, the last operational medical facility in the area, which also sheltered displaced families and patients, was evacuated subsequently.
Despite the evacuation of the European Hospital, Ali Abu Ismehan, a casualty of Israeli gunfire with injuries to his legs and pelvis, claimed that Nasser Hospital was filled to capacity: “I am waiting in the street for a place inside.”
In response, an Israeli defence official stated that even though evacuation orders had been given, the staff and patients of the European Gaza Hospital were informed they could remain.
With healthcare access desperately needed, the World Health Organisation’s Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, described the cessation of services at the European Gaza Hospital as “devastating”. He reported that Nasser Medical Complex now operates at maximum capacity, with severe shortages of surgical medicines and supplies.
Meanwhile, a dozen former US government officials, who resigned over the support for Israel’s war in Gaza by the US, openly criticised President Biden’s administration on Tuesday. They accused the US government of being undeniably involved in the deaths of Palestinians in Gaza. The ex-officials asserted in a collective statement that the Biden administration circumvented the law in order to uphold its support for Israel and perpetuate the supply of weaponry to its ally.
The White House and the United States State Department remain silent on the recent public statement. The global community has increasingly criticised Israel’s actions in Gaza as well as the United States’ military and diplomatic backing of its ally during the conflict.
The stepping down of 12 American representatives indicates certain internal disagreement concerning US support towards Israel. The US capital has advocated for safeguarding civilians in Gaza, appealing to Israel to facilitate better aid access.
Those who endorsed the collaborative declaration include previous members from various departments including White House, military, state, education, and interior.
They labelled America’s unceasing provision of weaponry to Israel and its diplomatic safeguard as rendering them unquestionably complicit in the fatalities and enforced starvation experienced by the confined population of Palestinians in Gaza, according to the collective statement made by these former officials.
They appealed to the US administration to utilise its potential influence to conclude the war, ensuring freedom for Israeli captives in Gaza and Palestinian detainees in Israel. They also insisted the US government should support Palestine’s right to self-governance and sponsor an instant increase of humanitarian aid in Gaza.
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