Wednesday’s series of air attacks by the Israeli military throughout Gaza resulted in the deaths of a minimum 50 Palestinians, said the local health authorities, as a conclusive peace agreement remains uncertain post the recent trip by Antony Blinken, US Secretary of State. Israeli air forces targeted approximately 30 sites within Gaza, including observation posts, tunnel networks, and weapon launch sites, as efforts to end the nearly year-long conflict with Hamas persist.
Israeli soldiers reportedly claimed the lives of multiple armed opposition and confiscated an array of weaponry such as grenades, explosives, and automatic guns. In subsequent action, the military targeted a school and a neighbouring Gaza City residence, resulting in at least three fatalities and 15 injuries, as per the local civil emergency services.
The military insists that it engaged Hamas militants stationed within a command centre based in a former school compound. They accuse Hamas of persistently functioning from within civilian zones – a claim which the dominant militant group in Gaza refutes firmly. Aerial assault by Israel in the southern Gaza region, specifically at a displaced individuals’ tent camp in Bani Suhaila close to Khan Younis, caused the deaths of seven Palestinians, stated medical staff.
In response to a rising threat in the densely populated Deir Al-Balah zone in central Gaza, where many of the displaced Palestinians are seeking refuge, new evacuation directives were issued by the military. The orders, deemed as a necessity to move civilians away from “a hazardous combat area”, were rapidly followed by tank artillery and machine gun fire, resulting in a minimum of one fatality and various injuries, according to medical staff and locals.
While the conflict prevails, Blinken concluded his ninth diplomatic trip to the Middle East since the war in Gaza began last October, with no clear resolution in sight due to deep-rooted disagreements between the conflicting parties. Blinken’s discussions with ceasefire moderators, such as Egypt and Qatar, as well as Israel, have centred around the heavy burden borne by the small, overcrowded Gaza. The Israeli military onslaught since October has left over 40,000 people dead, according to Palestinian healthcare departments and hostages still remain captive there.
On the 7th of October last year, a conflict ignited when Hamas militants launched an attack on Israeli settlements and military facilities. According to Israel’s records, the assault resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities and the seizure of around 250 hostages. In Deir Al-Balah, displaced residents encountered further hardship due to the absence of ceasefire advancements, leaving them to seek sanctuary away from the battle.
Struggling with displacement, Aburakan from northern Gaza City questioned, “Where will we go? Where will we go?” Forced to switch shelters five times since the onset of the conflict in October, uncertainty hangs over his conditions. “We sense the encroachment. My home lies barely a few hundred meters away from the imminent conflict areas. I’ve been fruitlessly scouting for a place to stay in western Deir Al-Balah, Khan Younis, or Nuseirat since the break of dawn,” he confessed. Fatigue and despair coloured his voice as he continued, “Regrettably, we might perish before witnessing the end of this conflict. All the talk of truce appears to be untrue.”
Officials from Palestine and the United Nations report that the majority of the 2.3 million inhabitants have become internally displaced due to Israel’s continuous ground operation and heavy bombardment, leading to vast destruction across the region.
– Thomson Reuters 2024. All Rights Reserved.