Gaza City Devastated: 50 Dead, 184 Injured After Israeli Withdrawal
In the early hours of Tuesday, paramedics began a grim search for survivors and injured in the Al-Nasser neighborhood of Gaza, following the withdrawal of Israeli tanks. The search comes after a day of heavy shelling and destruction that has left at least 50 dead and 184 injured, according to the Ministry of Health.
Monday saw a barrage of rockets and grenades targeting almost all refugee camps in the 42-kilometer-long enclave. The offensive has been characterized by the use of flamethrowers mounted on bulldozers to destroy Palestinian homes, a tactic that has left entire neighborhoods in ruins. The eastern part of Gaza City, particularly, has been reduced to a wasteland, with tanks advancing into the city center.
The humanitarian situation is dire. More than 400,000 people have fled south from Gaza City, many carrying only what they can on their backs or in plastic bags. However, Israeli authorities have banned many humanitarian workers from the Gaza Strip, making their return difficult.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz have expressed support for a plan to expel Hamas from Gaza and keep the army in the Philadelphi Corridor. Netanyahu has called for intensified military actions in Gaza City, emphasizing the targeting of Hamas leadership and infrastructure. Meanwhile, prominent government members like Bezalel Smotrich have echoed these sentiments. Netanyahu has defended the war at the UN, describing it as a fight against Islamic terrorism.
