Saturday, 21 December, 2024
An Israeli airstrike on a school housing displaced individuals in central Gaza killed at least 28 people, including women and children, on Thursday. Additionally, three hospitals in the northern region were ordered to evacuate, putting patients' lives in jeopardy, according to medical personnel.
The strike occurred in the city of Deir Al-Balah, where approximately one million people have sought refuge after fleeing violence in other areas amid more than a year of ongoing conflict.
The Israeli military stated on Thursday that it had conducted a "precise strike on terrorists" who were reportedly operating a command and control centre within the school.
"This is a further example of the Hamas terrorist organisation’s systematic abuse of civilian infrastructure in violation of international law," a military statement said.
The Palestinian militant group denies such accusations. Medics said 54 other people were injured at the school.
In Gaza's north, the Israeli military was pursuing an offensive begun six days ago when it sent its troops into Jabalia, the largest of Gaza's eight historic refugee camps, and the nearby towns of Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahiya.
On Thursday, the military said it had killed at least 12 militants from Hamas and the Iranian-backed Islamic Jihad who it said were operating from a command and control centre in what was previously a medical compound in Jabalia. It said large quantities of weapons and ammunition were stored at the site.
Palestinian health officials say at least 130 people have been killed so far in the operation, which Israel says is aimed at preventing Hamas from regrouping.
The military has told residents to evacuate an area in which the U.N. estimates more than 400,000 people are trapped.
Health officials reported that the Israeli military ordered patients and medical staff at the Indonesian, Al-Awda, and Kamal Adwan hospitals to evacuate within 24 hours on Wednesday, threatening storming the facilities if they did not comply, as had occurred previously at Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza City.
Israel has not yet commented on the evacuation orders for medical facilities but claims that Hamas operates command centers hidden within these hospitals, a statement Hamas denies.
Hussam Abu Safiya, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, warned that eight patients—mostly children with severe shrapnel wounds—would be at serious risk if forced to evacuate the intensive care unit. He also noted that the hospital was running low on fuel.
APPEAL FOR HELP
Abu Safiya urged the international community to pressure Israel to allow medical staff to continue operating in the three hospitals in northern Gaza, stating, "Our message is one of peace for the sake of those children."
Ramesh Rajasingham, director of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, reported that a team from OCHA and the World Health Organization was unable to reach Kamal Adwan Hospital despite receiving clearance from the Israeli military.
"The team was forced to wait for hours at the holding point, ultimately leading to the mission being aborted. This is not an unusual occurrence," Rajasingham told a UN meeting. "In September, less than 10% of coordinated missions to northern Gaza were facilitated by Israeli authorities."
He added, "The essential conditions for effective aid operations are severely lacking or entirely absent."
Medics reported that Israeli bombardment near Kamal Adwan Hospital has already caused damage to the facility, and they are aware of many bodies lying in the streets outside due to Israeli fire.
The Israeli military instructed residents of Jabalia and surrounding areas to move to humanitarian-designated zones in southern Gaza, but Palestinian and UN officials contend that there are no truly safe locations to escape to in the densely populated enclave.
Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA, addressed the UN Security Council, saying, "Hundreds of thousands of people are being forced to relocate to the south, where living conditions are intolerable."
Residents reported that Israeli forces had encircled Jabalia and were allowing exit through only one corridor. They indicated that troops were interrogating those who attempted to leave and making arrests, while anyone trying to escape via alternate routes was fired upon.
Hamas and its ally Islamic Jihad claimed they continued to engage Israeli forces using anti-tank rockets and mortar shells.
The Israeli military stated it had killed dozens of militants, seized weapons, and dismantled militant infrastructure in the north.
Israel launched its offensive following a cross-border attack by Hamas-led militants on southern Israeli communities on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and around 250 hostages taken, according to Israeli estimates.
The Gaza health ministry reports that over 42,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli offensive. Most of Gaza's 2.3 million residents have been displaced, and significant portions of the enclave have been devastated.
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An Israeli airstrike on a school housing displaced individuals in central Gaza killed at least 28 people, including women and children, on Thursday. Additionally, three hospitals in the northern region were ordered to evacuate, putting patients' lives in jeopardy, according to medical personnel.
The strike occurred in the city of Deir Al-Balah, where approximately one million people have sought refuge after fleeing violence in other areas amid more than a year of ongoing conflict.
The Israeli military stated on Thursday that it had conducted a "precise strike on terrorists" who were reportedly operating a command and control centre within the school.
"This is a further example of the Hamas terrorist organisation’s systematic abuse of civilian infrastructure in violation of international law," a military statement said.
The Palestinian militant group denies such accusations. Medics said 54 other people were injured at the school.
In Gaza's north, the Israeli military was pursuing an offensive begun six days ago when it sent its troops into Jabalia, the largest of Gaza's eight historic refugee camps, and the nearby towns of Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahiya.
On Thursday, the military said it had killed at least 12 militants from Hamas and the Iranian-backed Islamic Jihad who it said were operating from a command and control centre in what was previously a medical compound in Jabalia. It said large quantities of weapons and ammunition were stored at the site.
Palestinian health officials say at least 130 people have been killed so far in the operation, which Israel says is aimed at preventing Hamas from regrouping.
The military has told residents to evacuate an area in which the U.N. estimates more than 400,000 people are trapped.
Health officials reported that the Israeli military ordered patients and medical staff at the Indonesian, Al-Awda, and Kamal Adwan hospitals to evacuate within 24 hours on Wednesday, threatening storming the facilities if they did not comply, as had occurred previously at Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza City.
Israel has not yet commented on the evacuation orders for medical facilities but claims that Hamas operates command centers hidden within these hospitals, a statement Hamas denies.
Hussam Abu Safiya, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, warned that eight patients—mostly children with severe shrapnel wounds—would be at serious risk if forced to evacuate the intensive care unit. He also noted that the hospital was running low on fuel.
APPEAL FOR HELP
Abu Safiya urged the international community to pressure Israel to allow medical staff to continue operating in the three hospitals in northern Gaza, stating, "Our message is one of peace for the sake of those children."
Ramesh Rajasingham, director of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, reported that a team from OCHA and the World Health Organization was unable to reach Kamal Adwan Hospital despite receiving clearance from the Israeli military.
"The team was forced to wait for hours at the holding point, ultimately leading to the mission being aborted. This is not an unusual occurrence," Rajasingham told a UN meeting. "In September, less than 10% of coordinated missions to northern Gaza were facilitated by Israeli authorities."
He added, "The essential conditions for effective aid operations are severely lacking or entirely absent."
Medics reported that Israeli bombardment near Kamal Adwan Hospital has already caused damage to the facility, and they are aware of many bodies lying in the streets outside due to Israeli fire.
The Israeli military instructed residents of Jabalia and surrounding areas to move to humanitarian-designated zones in southern Gaza, but Palestinian and UN officials contend that there are no truly safe locations to escape to in the densely populated enclave.
Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA, addressed the UN Security Council, saying, "Hundreds of thousands of people are being forced to relocate to the south, where living conditions are intolerable."
Residents reported that Israeli forces had encircled Jabalia and were allowing exit through only one corridor. They indicated that troops were interrogating those who attempted to leave and making arrests, while anyone trying to escape via alternate routes was fired upon.
Hamas and its ally Islamic Jihad claimed they continued to engage Israeli forces using anti-tank rockets and mortar shells.
The Israeli military stated it had killed dozens of militants, seized weapons, and dismantled militant infrastructure in the north.
Israel launched its offensive following a cross-border attack by Hamas-led militants on southern Israeli communities on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and around 250 hostages taken, according to Israeli estimates.
The Gaza health ministry reports that over 42,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli offensive. Most of Gaza's 2.3 million residents have been displaced, and significant portions of the enclave have been devastated.
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