According to Palestinian reports, almost 50 people have been killed again in Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip. Doctors said on Wednesday that 20 people where killed and numerous wounded in the shelling of a tent camp in Al-Mawazi. Further airstrikes on targets in Gaza City left at least 20 dead and many injured. Nine Palestinians died in tank fire in Rafah,near the border with Egypt,it said.
The civil rescue service said that in the attack on the refugee camp, several tents housing displaced families were set on fire. According to information from a nearby hospital, there were also injuries in the bombing. When asked, the Israeli army said it had attacked high-ranking Hamas members in the area. These were “involved in terrorist activities in the humanitarian area in Khan Younis.”
After the air strike there were further explosions. This suggests that weapons were struck in the area. Weapons stored there also exploded during the air strike. Hamas is hiding in the humanitarian zone and using the civilian population there as a shield. The information provided by both sides could not initially be independently verified.
In addition, three airstrikes on areas in central Gaza killed 11 people, including six children and a doctor, according to medics.Five of the dead were standing in line in front of a bakery. It was said that several victims were still trapped under the rubble.
According to the United Nations, there are no longer any safe areas in the Gaza Strip. Most of the once 2.3 million inhabitants have already been displaced several times. Israeli forces also shelled the clinic for the fifth day in a row, according to the director of the Kamal Adwan Hospital in Bait Lahiya, northern Gaza. Three of his medical staff were wounded on Tuesday evening, one of them seriously. Israel drops bombs filled with shrapnel from drones.
Residents of the three towns of Jabalia,Bait Lahiya and Bait Hanoun said Israel’s military blew up dozens of houses.Palestinians have repeatedly said that the military is trying to drive people out of the northern Gaza Strip through forced evacuations and bombings to create a buffer zone that can no longer be populated after the war ends.The Israeli army denies this and says it only wants to prevent Hamas fighters from regrouping in an area that Israel has previously cleared. The army accuses Hamas fighters of frequently enough using homes, schools and clinics as cover and has repeatedly provided videos to prove this. Hamas has nevertheless rejected this and accuses Israel of indiscriminate attacks.
More than 44,500 people have been killed and more than 105,000 injured in Gaza as the war began nearly 14 months ago, according to the Hamas-controlled health authority. The information does not distinguish between civilians and fighters.
Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said during a visit to an air base in the center of the country: “There is a chance that we can actually move forward with a hostage deal this time.” The reason is that the military pressure on Hamas has increased, among other things, because of the weakening of Hezbollah in Lebanon. The Islamist terrorist organization warned against liberation operations.
The radical Palestinian group said it had information that such an operation could be imminent. In that case, the hostages would be “neutralized.” In an internal instruction to the fighters available to the Reuters news agency, the Hamas leadership asked not to worry about the consequences of a possible execution. Israel is responsible for the fate of the hostages.
There were initially no signals from Hamas that there could be any movement in the deadlocked negotiations.It insists on the complete withdrawal of the Israeli army from the Gaza Strip, the release of prisoners and a ceasefire as a prerequisite for the release of the hostages. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on the other hand, insists on the destruction of Hamas as a war goal.
Katz said on Wednesday that the most important thing in the Gaza war at the moment was to bring those abducted from Israel home. Israel is working with all means to achieve this ultimate goal. Israel had previously named, among other things, the destruction of Hamas’s military capabilities and ability to govern as war goals. Katz did not say whether Israel believes these goals have now been achieved.
The negotiations in the Gaza war are about a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip in return for the release of the hostages from Hamas. An agreement also provides for the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons.
The Israeli military also said Wednesday that six hostages whose bodies were recovered in August had been killed by Hamas militants. This happened around the same time as Israeli attacks in the area where the hostages were being held.
On Wednesday, Israeli forces recovered the body of another man abducted from Israel in the Gaza Strip. The hostage’s remains were brought back to Israel,the Israeli army said in a statement. At the beginning of the year, the military announced that he had been murdered in captivity by his captors.
According to Israeli information, the 38-year-old was kidnapped on October 7, 2023 from Kibbutz Beeri, which is located near the Gaza Strip. His parents were also murdered in the Hamas massacre. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke in the evening of a “serious loss for the family”.
It was not initially announced where exactly the emergency services found the remains in the Palestinian coastal area. Soldiers and employees of the domestic secret service were involved in the military operation.
Israel began its offensive in the extremely densely populated Gaza Strip after Hamas-led militants invaded Israeli territory from there on October 7, 2023. According to Israel, around 1,200 people were killed and over 250 hostages were taken to the Gaza Strip. Many of them are now dead. According to Israeli prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, freeing the remaining hostages remains one of the goals of the war.
according to Palestinian figures, around 44,500 people have been killed and 105,000 injured in the Gaza Strip since the offensive began. Many buildings were destroyed by shelling and are considered uninhabitable. The United Nations has repeatedly sharply criticized Israel’s actions. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant against Netanyahu for alleged war crimes.
Last week,Israel agreed to a ceasefire with Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon. A conflict had developed in Lebanon parallel to the Gaza war. According to Lebanese information,around 4,000 people have been killed and around 16,600 injured in Israeli attacks in Lebanon since October 2023. In the war in the Gaza Strip there has only been one ceasefire more than a year ago, which was broken again after about a week.
What are the main humanitarian challenges facing civilians in conflict zones like Gaza?
Interview between Time.news editor and Conflict Expert
Editor: Welcome to Time.news,where we delve into the most pressing global issues. Today,we have the privilege of speaking with Dr.Sarah El-Amin, a renowned expert on Middle Eastern conflicts. Dr. El-Amin, thank you for joining us.
Dr. El-Amin: Thank you for having me. It’s a pleasure to be here.
Editor: The recent events in Gaza have been devastating. Reports indicate that almost 50 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes, with devastating impacts on refugee camps and residential areas. can you provide some context on the current situation?
Dr.El-Amin: Sadly, the current situation in Gaza is dire. The airstrikes have focused on areas considered to be strongholds of Hamas, yet these strikes are disproportionately affecting civilians. The bombardment of a refugee camp in Al-Mawazi, where tents housing displaced families were destroyed, highlights the tragic consequence of warfare in densely populated urban areas.
Editor: The israeli army claims to be targeting high-ranking Hamas members. How does international law interpret these dynamics, especially given the civilian casualties?
Dr. El-Amin: Under international humanitarian law, the principle of distinction mandates that parties to a conflict must always distinguish between combatants and civilians. Attacks targeting military objectives that result in civilian casualties raise serious legal and ethical questions.Accountability for indiscriminate attacks must be considered, and both parties need to adhere to international standards to prevent further loss of innocent life.
Editor: The statistics are staggering, with over 44,500 reported deaths and 105,000 injured since the onset of the conflict. How are these figures collected, and do we have any reliable way to assess the number of civilians versus fighters?
Dr. El-Amin: The figures provided by the Hamas-controlled health authority primarily reflect the situation on the ground from their viewpoint. Though, verifying the identities of casualties amidst the chaos is extremely challenging. Most reports do not differentiate between civilians and fighters, leading to ongoing debates about the actual humanitarian impact of the conflict.
Editor: there have been claims from both sides: Israel asserts Hamas uses civilians as shields, while Hamas accuses Israel of indiscriminate attacks.How do we navigate this narrative in seeking the truth?
Dr. El-Amin: Navigating this landscape is complex. Both narratives may hold elements of truth, but the key lies in independent verification and third-party assessments. Humanitarian organizations frequently enough face obstacles in conducting impartial investigations,and credible reports can be stifled by the ongoing violence. Ensuring transparency and fostering dialog are crucial to understanding and resolving these claims.
Editor: recently, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz hinted at a potential hostage deal due to increased military pressure on Hamas. What implications could such negotiations have on the current situation?
Dr.el-Amin: Hostage negotiations can be a double-edged sword. If prosperous, thay could lead to a temporary cessation of hostilities, but they also risk incentivizing further kidnappings. Moreover, if the Hamas leadership perceives a lack of options, it may resort to desperate measures, increasing risks to the hostages’ safety. The broader humanitarian considerations must be prioritized to ensure that these negotiations do not exacerbate the situation for civilians.
Editor: The United Nations states that there are no longer any safe areas in Gaza. What does this mean for humanitarian efforts and the future of the region?
dr. El-Amin: the UN’s assertion underlines the desperate humanitarian crisis in Gaza. With increasing casualties and widespread displacement, ongoing assistance efforts are critically hampered. the lack of safe zones complicates the ability of aid organizations to operate effectively. Long-term solutions will require international engagement, ceasefire agreements, and focus on rebuilding trust among the communities affected by the conflict.
Editor: thank you, Dr. El-Amin, for providing such insightful analysis amidst this tragic situation. Your expertise sheds light on the critical need for a concerted international effort towards peace and humanitarian relief.
Dr. el-Amin: Thank you for having me. I hope for a swift resolution to the conflict and peace for the people of Gaza.