Israeli airstrike in Gaza decried amid humanitarian crisis
The Israeli army conducted an airstrike on Saturday in the town of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip. The operation resulted in 35 casualties. "The ongoing evacuation orders and continuous restrictions on the supply of essential goods have placed the remaining civilians in the northern Gaza Strip in a dire situation," warns the International Committee of the Red Cross.
The Israeli authorities claim that the airstrike on Beit Lahia targeted Hamas terrorists believed to be situated there. Al Jazeera reported that rockets hit residential buildings, causing some to collapse. The number of casualties may increase.
Meanwhile, according to local authorities, since the start of Israel's new weeks-long offensive in the region, about 800 people have already been killed. It's unclear how many of these casualties were Hamas fighters.
The residents' suffering in the Gaza Strip is worsened by the dire humanitarian situation, which WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described as "catastrophic".
Israel reiterates that residents of the destroyed areas can evacuate to a designated humanitarian zone in the southern Gaza Strip. However, as reported by media outlets and non-governmental organizations, the zone is overcrowded and unable to accommodate all the refugees.
"The ongoing evacuation orders and continuous restrictions on the supply of essential goods have put the remaining civilians in the northern Gaza Strip in a dire situation," stated the International Committee of the Red Cross in a statement released on Saturday. They have also called for the establishment of "safe corridors" for those wishing to flee south.
The USA threatened Israel: "Limiting aid"
Control over aid shipments to the Gaza Strip lies with the government in Tel Aviv. During the first two weeks of October, no convoys reached the Strip. The United States has threatened to limit military aid to Israel if the humanitarian situation in the region does not improve.
In response, Israel allowed aid shipments. However, local officials report that the aid is not reaching the northern part of the Strip. Israel maintains that aid agencies are responsible for distribution within Gaza.
Israel's war with Hamas
The conflict in the Gaza Strip erupted after a terrorist attack by Hamas on southern Israel on October 6, 2023. This attack resulted in about 1,200 deaths, and 251 individuals were kidnapped.
Local authorities report that the Israeli offensive against Hamas has resulted in over 42,800 Palestinian deaths. The Gaza Strip has been devastated, and most of its residents are now internally displaced.
Source: PAP
