Protesters rally throughout the “March on Washington for Gaza” in Washington, DC, on January 13, 2024. Israel’s bombardment of Gaza has killed at the very least 23,708 folks, principally girls and youngsters, based on the most recent well being ministry figures. The warfare started when Hamas launched an assault on October 7, which resulted in about 1,140 deaths in Israel, principally civilians, based on an AFP tally primarily based on official figures. The militant group additionally seized about 250 hostages. (AFP)
PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES – The United Nations mentioned on Saturday the Gaza warfare was “staining humanity” on the eve of its a hundredth day as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu doubled down on vows to defeat Hamas.
The devastating battle has unleashed a humanitarian disaster in Gaza and fears of a regional escalation intensified after US and British forces struck pro-Hamas Houthi rebels in Yemen on Friday following assaults on Pink Sea delivery.
The warfare was triggered on October 7 when Hamas militants launched an unprecedented assault from the Gaza Strip that resulted in about 1,140 deaths in Israel, principally civilians, based on an AFP tally primarily based on official figures.
Hamas, thought of a “terrorist” group by america and the European Union, additionally seized about 250 hostages, 132 of whom Israel says stay in Gaza, together with at the very least 25 believed to have been killed.
Israel vowed to destroy Gaza’s Islamist rulers and launched a relentless bombardment that has killed at the very least 23,843 folks, principally girls and youngsters, based on the most recent toll from the territory’s well being ministry.
An Israeli siege has sparked acute shortages of meals, water, medication and gasoline in Gaza, the place the well being system is collapsing.
Visiting the Gaza Strip, the pinnacle of the UN company for Palestinian refugees, Philippe Lazzarini, mentioned “the large demise, destruction, displacement, starvation, loss and grief of the final 100 days are staining our shared humanity”.
A whole era of kids in Gaza had been being “traumatized”, ailments had been spreading and the clock is “ticking quick in the direction of famine”, he warned.
‘Nobody will cease us’
The Hague-based Worldwide Courtroom of Justice this week heard arguments in a case launched by South Africa — and welcomed by Gazans — accusing Israel of breaching the UN Genocide Conference.
The case seeks a halt to the navy marketing campaign, which Israel harassed to the court docket was in self-defence and never aimed toward Palestinian residents.
However Netanyahu insisted no court docket or navy foe may cease Israel from attaining its purpose of destroying Hamas.
“Nobody will cease us — not The Hague, not the Axis of Evil and nobody else,” he informed a televised press convention, referring to the Iran-aligned “axis of resistance” teams in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen.
“It’s attainable and essential to proceed till victory and we are going to do it,” he added, saying most Hamas battalions in Gaza had been “eradicated”.
Israel’s military chief Herzi Halevi mentioned the warfare in Gaza was a battle “for our proper to stay right here in security”, including that the October 7 assaults would by no means be forgotten.
‘We began to scream’
Well being officers in Gaza mentioned that Israeli strikes killed at the very least 60 folks within the besieged territory.
Nimma al-Akhras, 80, described the strike that destroyed her residence.
“It was very highly effective,” she mentioned. “We began to scream and I couldn’t transfer however somebody pulled me out and put me on a cart.”
The Israeli military mentioned it struck dozens of rocket launchers that had been “prepared for use” in central Gaza and eradicated 4 “terrorists” in air strikes on Khan Yunis, Gaza’s important southern metropolis.
The navy additionally reported that its engineers had destroyed a Hamas “command centre” and weapons discovered there, after a raid in central Gaza.
At Rafah’s Al-Najjar hospital, mourners gathered and prayed across the our bodies of slain relations.
One man, Bassem Araf, held up a photograph of a kid.
“She died hungry with bread in her hand. We tried to take away the bread from her hand however it was held tight,” Araf mentioned.
“That is the resistance they’re focusing on in Gaza, simply youngsters.”
‘Devastating repercussions’
An AFP reporter in Rafah mentioned telecommunications had been partially restored, a day after Gaza’s important operator Paltel reported the most recent outage.
Paltel didn’t instantly verify the service restoration however mentioned an Israeli strike killed two of its staff in Khan Yunis whereas they had been repairing the community.
Winter rains have exacerbated the dire humanitarian scenario in Gaza, the place the UN estimates 1.9 million — almost 85 p.c of the inhabitants — have been displaced.
Many have sought shelter in Rafah and different southern areas the place the well being ministry says there isn’t the infrastructure to help them.
Gaza’s well being ministry spokesman accused Israel of “intentionally focusing on hospitals… to place them out of service”, warning of “devastating repercussions”.
Hospitals, protected beneath worldwide humanitarian regulation, have repeatedly been hit by Israeli strikes in Gaza for the reason that warfare erupted.
The Israeli navy accuses Hamas of working command centres in tunnels beneath hospitals, a cost the Islamist group denies.
Fewer than half of Gaza’s hospitals are functioning and people solely partly, the World Well being Group says.
In Israel, concern grew for hostages held in Gaza as they method their a hundredth day in captivity, with Netanyahu beneath home stress to get them residence.
Hundreds rallied in Tel Aviv on Saturday calling for his or her launch, after relations unveiled a duplicate of the Gaza tunnels the place the captives are believed to be held.
“We are going to proceed to come back right here week after week till all people is launched,” Edan Begerano, 47, informed AFP.
Individually, about 100 folks gathered to name for an finish to the warfare, brandishing indicators saying: “Revenge will not be victory” and: “No to the occupation.” Minor scuffles broke out between them and authorities supporters.
Your subscription couldn’t be saved. Please attempt once more.
Your subscription has been profitable.
Agence France-Presse