Israeli military operations—not settler violence—are responsible for the deaths of 22 people in Palestinian territories, including seven children. Of them, 16 were civilians sheltering under an overpass while they were waiting to get humanitarian aid. The rising violence is happening against the backdrop of Israeli moves to counter what they call Hamas’ and Iran’s growing threats. Photo by IOM/Muse Muhammad As the humanitarian crisis escalates, global responses are needed more urgently than ever.
Throughout Tuesday, Israeli forces carried out fatal raids around Gaza Heath Facilities (GHF) cities, and 17 Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces. Such tragedy deepens a persisting onslaught of violence in the area. Israeli gunfire in the West Bank killed at least 14 of those people. As they drove toward their next GHF distribution site in Rafah, located at Gaza’s southern border, these attacks have led to extreme criticism from many humanitarian organizations, who have called the attacks barbaric and intentional.
“We condemn this heinous and deliberate attack in the strongest possible terms,” – Gaza Humanitarian Foundation
Since then, the situation has continued to deteriorate, with reports suggesting that Gaza’s internet and phone lines are now completely cut. According to the Palestinian telecom authority and major provider Paltel, a major line was cut during recent Israeli operations. This disaster has aggravated what was already a critical situation for these residents in distress.
At the same time as all these developments, Israel has announced arresting Hamas members in an operation in southern Syria. This decision is in sync with broader Israeli strategy of preemptively striking against imagined and real threats from militant groups across the region. In addition, Israeli officials have called on the international community to act firmly in the face of Iran’s recent further non-compliance with its nuclear commitments. In a statement following an earlier today, Israel’s foreign ministry called attention to Iran’s continued blocking of IAEA verification and monitoring. In doing so, they raised the alarm that these steps represent an extraordinary danger to both regional and global order.
“Iran has consistently obstructed IAEA’s verification and monitoring, it removed inspectors, and it sanitised and concealed suspected undeclared locations in [Iran],” – Israel’s foreign ministry
As a result of present tensions, the U.S. government has called on all U.S. personnel and their dependents to maintain a travel advisory. They have to limit their travel beyond the greater Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Be’er Sheva jurisdictions indefinitely. This is a mark of increasing concern about safety in the wake of the continuing war and conflict.
Protests against Israel’s near-total blockade on Gaza are escalating in the region and beyond. In turn, two convoys of activists are mobilizing to bring assistance—one of which includes at least 1,500 supporters of the convoys from Algeria and Tunisia. A symbolic shipment intended for Gaza, carried by climate activist Greta Thunberg and eleven others, was stopped from entering on Monday.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz expresses hopes on the knock out of Egyptian authorities. He thinks they’re going to stop those jihadist protesters from making it to the Egypt-Israel border. His comments come amid reports that over 200 participants were detained or questioned at Cairo airport and various hotels throughout Cairo.
“I expect Egyptian authorities to prevent the arrival of jihadist protesters at the Egypt-Israel border,” – Israel Katz
In addition to the ongoing conflict, reports have surfaced regarding a plane carrying injured Palestinian children and their families arriving in Italy. Adam Al-Najjar, who was left with numerous fractures, and his mother just arrived at Milan’s Linate airport. This is a harrowing reality of the conflict, and it highlights the human cost of this conflict, as families continue to flee violence searching for sanctuary and medical care.
As the conflict progresses, Israel is still on high alert. U.S. officials have indicated that Israel is “fully ready” to launch an attack on Iran if necessary, marking a significant escalation in regional tensions. These military operations take place in a highly complicated and dynamic political environment. In 2018, Israel traded fire with Iranian forces in Syria twice.