Gaza: 2700 Israeli air attacks on residential neighbourhoods killed 700 Palestinians incl 143 children
By Nadine Osman
(The Muslim News): The Gaza Interior Ministry denied the Israeli army’s allegation on Tuesday that its 200 raids overnight targeted Hamas military infrastructure, instead claiming that they targeted civilians and residential areas.
The Israeli army said in a statement posted on X that its jets and navy vessels hit Hamas military targets, including a weapons storage site. It stated that firearms were kept in a mosque.
Israeli army also claimed that the army bombed an apartment used to store anti-tank guided missiles and a high-rise building used by the Hamas organisation, among other targets.
The Gaza-based media office said on Monday that the Israeli army committed “15 massacres” against Palestinian families during their raids on Gaza.
The Palestinian Hamas group launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against Israel early Saturday, firing a barrage of rockets and infiltrating Israel by land, air, and sea. It said the surprise attack was in response to the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and increased settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.
In retaliation, the Israeli military launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
The number of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in Gaza has risen to 704, including 143 children and 105 women, the Gaza-based Health Ministry said early Tuesday. It said the number of wounded has risen to around 4,000.
Israeli army Tuesday said 1,500 bodies of Hamas fighters were found in Israel.
At least 900 Israelis have been killed and over 2,600 others wounded, including 380 in critical condition in the fighting, according to the Israeli Ministry of Health.
On Monday, the Israeli Navy attacked central Gaza Strip locations along the Mediterranean shore, as well as residential areas in the city of Khan Yunis.
Dozens of rockets were fired from Israeli attack boats towards the coastal areas of the city, the Palestinian state-run WAFA news agency reported.
According to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), over 137,000 residents in Gaza have sought refuge in 83 of its schools, and the number is growing because of continued Israeli bombings.
UNRWA stated that due to the closure of all 14 food distribution locations, half a million people had ceased getting crucial food help.
Manwhile, the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza said that Israeli airstrikes targeted four ambulances east of Khan Yunis city.
The latest move comes after Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant decided Monday to impose a “complete” siege on Gaza, saying no electricity, food, water, or fuel will reach the Gaza Strip.
Both UK Prime Minister’s Spokesman and UK Foreing Secretary, James Cleverly, refused to criticise or show concern about the siege.
“I haven’t seen any firm reports of that claim. Obviously they are engaged in a response now to this attack. But we support their right to self-defense and their right to take proportionate [action].”
Asked by Kay Burley of Sky News whether he wanted to offer support to people in Gaza – who are currently “under siege” – he objected to the premise of the question.
“The truth is that the reason we express our solidarity with the people of Israel is because terrorists took action to murder, to kidnap, and we’re now seeing reports that they are threatening to execute people that they have kidnapped,” Cleverly replied.
“The idea that somehow there is an equivalence, there is a kind of a balancing act between the actions of the Israeli government and their self defence, and the actions of Hamas and their terrorists, is completely inappropriate.”
Since Saturday, Israel has closed all crossings with the Gaza Strip in both directions.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Monday that he was “deeply distressed” by Israel’s decision to impose a “complete siege” on the Gaza Strip.
According to Guterres, Gallant’s announcement that Israel will cut off all supplies of electricity, food, and fuel will exacerbate an already terrible humanitarian situation in the coastal Palestinian enclave.
“The humanitarian situation in Gaza was extremely dire before these hostilities; now it will only deteriorate exponentially,” Guterres told reporters at the UN’s New York City headquarters. “Medical equipment, food, fuel, and other humanitarian supplies are desperately needed, along with access for humanitarian personnel.”
[Photo: A medical worker rushes an injured child to the ambulance for treatment after Israeli airstrikes destroy buildings in Gaza City, Gaza on 9 10 23. Photojournalist: Belal Khaled/ AA]
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