September, Thursday 19, 2024

Israeli Air Strikes in Gaza Continues Unhindered, Reports UN


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According to a UN official who visited a hospital in Gaza, Israeli air strikes are continuing relentlessly, causing devastating injuries and overwhelming the healthcare system. Gemma Connell of the UN's humanitarian agency OCHA described the scene at Al-Aqsa hospital as "absolute carnage," with many severely injured individuals unable to receive treatment due to the hospital being overloaded. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to escalate the fight against Hamas, stating that the military campaign in Gaza is far from over. However, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently called for Israel to reduce the intensity of its strikes. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees estimates that around 150,000 people in central Gaza have received evacuation orders from the Israeli military. The Hamas-run health ministry reported at least 70 deaths from the recent Israeli strike. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) acknowledged the strike but emphasized their commitment to minimizing harm to civilians. During her visit to Al-Aqsa, Connell witnessed new airstrikes in the area surrounding the hospital and witnessed new casualties being brought in. She expressed her frustration at the lack of safe places in Gaza and the dangers faced by those attempting to flee. The conflict began when Hamas attacked Israeli communities, resulting in numerous casualties and the capture of hostages. Gaza's health ministry reports that since then, over 20,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli bombardments, most of whom are women and children. Egypt has reportedly proposed a ceasefire plan, which includes the phased release of hostages and prisoners held by both sides. Previous ceasefire agreements arranged by Qatar have resulted in the release of hostages from Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. At present, both Israel and Hamas have rejected calls for a ceasefire.