The situation near the Gaza Strip is becoming more and more serious by the hour. Victims on both sides are increasing dramatically following the Israeli bombing of Gaza. The number of displaced people from the Strip is also increasing, reaching almost half a million. Gaza is starting to run out of food and fresh water. The United States, Egypt but also Turkey and other Arab countries are working to reach a truce to open the gates to Egypt and promote humanitarian corridors. US Secretary of State Blinken in his tour in the Middle East he will also travel to Doha to discuss the release of approximately 150 hostages held in the armored cellars of Gaza. In the meantime, the US has made it known that it is available to provide ground support to Israeli troops by sending special forces of the caliber of Navy Seals. One of the problems, in fact, is that of facing a guerrilla war in the streets of Gaza, densely populated, where the preparation of a regular army is not the best to get the better of the Hamas militiamen who know the environment and therefore, theoretically , they would be more advantaged during clashes. The hospitals in Israel have all been on alert and are already ready with medicines and equipment to accommodate a significant number of injured people. The situation, placed in a broader regional context, is not the best because it could constitute the fuse to explode anti-Western sentiment on a global level among millions of Palestinians and Muslims scattered in every city in the world. Since yesterday, France has poisoned the situation even further by banning pro-Hamas demonstrations.
Half a million displaced
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), more than 423.000 people have been forced to flee their homes in the Gaza Strip under siege and bombardment by the Israeli army yesterday. The number of displaced people in this densely populated area of 2,3 million inhabitants rose from 84.444 people to 423.378. 1.537 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip, including 500 children and 276 women. This is the budget communicated by the enclave's Ministry of Health. There were 6.612 injured, including 1.644 children.
The Israeli Air Force reports on
Human Rights Watch: Israel launched white phosphorus bombs
Israel used white phosphorus bombs in its attacks on Gaza and Lebanon, says a report by the humanitarian organization Human Rights Watch, also reviewed and verified by the US newspaper Washington Post.
According to the study, which examined videos of Israeli bombings in recent days, the Israeli armed forces used this type of weapon (155mm projectiles) on October 10 and 11 on the port of Gaza city and on two rural locations along the border between Lebanon and Israel. The Israeli army says it is "currently unaware" of the use of white phosphorus in Gaza. White phosphorus, which has several military uses, ignites when it comes into contact with oxygen and continues to burn until it is exhausted. It therefore has a powerful incendiary effect that causes widespread damage and can burn nearby people alive: used in densely populated areas such as Gaza, where military targets are not far from civilian settlements, it violates international laws that prohibit the taking of civilian lives to an unnecessary risk, reminds Human Rights Watch.
Gaza violated international rights
International rights have been violated, according to him Amnesty International, which verified several videos of the attack launched from the Gaza Strip and underlines how "evidence is still emerging" of the horrors that occurred in southern Israel. In Israel, the human rights organization points out, over 1200 people – mostly civilians, including children – were killed and 2400 injured in the attacks that began in the early hours of October 7.
In Gaza at least 1200 people, including children, have been killed by Israeli military retaliation. The tightening of the blockade of the Gaza Strip, with the complete cessation of supplies of water, electricity, food and fuel, is making the already catastrophic humanitarian crisis even more serious. The Israeli blockade of Gaza amounts to collective punishment which is also a war crime.
Serious situation in Gaza: lack of food and water
“The situation in Gaza is devastating”, food and water will run out “very soon”.
This is the alarm raised by WFP, the World Food Programme United Nations. According to the WFP, essential supplies are running dangerously low after Israel imposed a total blockade on the territory. The situation is "devastating" right now in Gaza, said WFP director for Palestine, Samer Abdeljaber, in an interview reprinted by the Guardian. “We are seeing shortages of fuel, water and electricity. We are seeing our shelters overcrowded. We have no capacity“. Bakeries are running out of power and many shops and markets are not functioning, she added. “What is really alarming is the lack of fresh water, which will affect many problems such as food quality and access to clean water for people in and outside shelters."he concluded.
Subscribe to our newsletter!