2024-01-26 11:29:37
MONDE – Fierce fighting continued this week in Khan Younis, in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli army intensified its bombings and operations in this new epicenter of the conflict, targeting a UN refuge on Wednesday. The toll is 12 dead and more than 75 injured, according to the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA). The Hamas Ministry of Health announced this Thursday, January 25, 2024 that the number of people killed by Israeli attacks in the Palestinian enclave now stands at more than 25,700 dead. Tel Aviv, which recorded its heaviest daily loss last Monday after the death of 21 of its soldiers, maintains its rejection of a two-state solution, at a time when Cairo, Washington and Doha are trying to mediate to achieve a new truce. The decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on urgent measures requested by South Africa, which accuses Israel of “genocide”, will be rendered this Friday, January 26.
Since last Sunday, the IDF army has concentrated its military operation, led by the government for almost four months, on Khan Younes, the main town in southern Gaza. The bombing intensified and snipers were stationed in many places. Israel claims to have “surrounded” the city, calling on the Gazan population to move to Rafah, a city located near the Egyptian border.
UN refugee camp targeted by attack
On Monday, the Israeli army recorded its heaviest daily loss, after the death of 21 of its soldiers. These are reservists who died in the collapse of a building that they were trapping. The collapse is attributed by the army spokesperson to a gunshot “enemy” rocket launchers.
On Wednesday morning, Tel Aviv claimed to have “eliminated numerous terrorist cells” by mobilizing “snipers, tanks and air forces”. On the same day, two tanks opened fire on a UN refuge, leaving, according to the latest report, 12 dead and more than 75 injured, including 15 in critical condition. The announcement was made by Thomas White, Director of UNRWA. The refuge houses 10,000 people, according to James McGoldrick, acting United Nations deputy special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, who deplored “another incident in which a building used for humanitarian purposes is damaged or struck”.
Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner General of UNRWA, for his part denounced “once again, a blatant violation of the fundamental rules of war”, without formally accusing Israel. The White House also reacted through the voice of the spokesperson for the National Security Council, who said “seriously concerned by reports of strikes targeting an UNRWA building”. Questioned by AFP, the Israeli army asserts that a “full review of force operations in the surrounding area was underway”excluding “an air or artillery strike” while evoking the “possibility” that Hamas is the author of this attack.
This organization, in power in Gaza since 2007, said Thursday that several hundred people have been killed in the last four days, including 50 in the last 24 hours. The total toll continues to rise, reaching at least 25,700 dead and more than 63,000 injured. The hospital in Khan Younes only operates with only 10% of its staff and under conditions “inhumane”. The Palestinian movement deplores a shortage of medicine, food and fuel necessary for the supply of electricity.
Cairo, Washington and Doha attempt mediation
The staff of the World Health Organization (WHO) also describes a situation “catastrophic and indescribable” in hospitals in the main southern city of Gaza. In addition, nearly 45% of the residential buildings in the enclave have been destroyed and are beyond repair, specifies the World Bank.
After the British Defense Minister, who last week called for a two-state solution, it is the turn of his Foreign Affairs colleague, David Cameron, to demand from the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, that more trucks aid can enter Gaza and a humanitarian pause “immediate” was “necessary”he insists.
Egypt, Qatar and the United States are continuing their diplomatic efforts to achieve this truce. US President Joe Biden’s Middle East adviser Brett McGurk is in Cairo to discuss ‘pause’ in the fighting and the release of hostages: “I can’t tell you if and when we can get there, but the conversations are very sober and serious to try to put in place another hostage agreement”for his part explained John Kirby, spokesperson for the White House.
Qatar’s participation irritates Benjamin Netanyahu who described, in an audio recording obtained by an Israeli channel, Qatari mediation as “problematic”asserting that Doha “financed” Hamas. Qatar said “dismayed” by these words.
The Israeli Prime Minister has continued to insist that neither diplomatic pressure, “nor the Axis of Evil and the International Court of Justice” will not stop his country’s offensive on Gaza. The CDJ announced on Wednesday that it would render its decision this Friday, January 26, concerning the urgent measures requested by South Africa against Tel Aviv, accused of “genocide” of the Palestinians. The highest court of the UN, which sits in The Hague, could order Israel to stop its military operation.
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