Intense battling in Gaza results in the loss of another 100 lives over two days; locals report ongoing attacks across all areas.
Friday, once again, saw Israel launching attacks on the Gaza Strip, causing devastating casualties. The Health Ministry in Gaza has reported that 109 people have been killed and over 200 injured as a result of the relentless bombings. On Thursday, 114 deaths were reported, and over 70 on Wednesday.
The Civil Defense in Gaza has raised concerns about the number of rescue team workers, stating they are insufficient to respond to the increasing number of calls from victims. Many people remain missing inside the attacked houses, and all areas of the Strip are under attack, according to Mahmud Basal, Gaza Civil Defense's spokesman.
The Health Ministry in Gaza estimates that the number of deaths since October 7 has risen to 53,119, while the injured exceed 120,000.
UN Slams Israel's Actions as Ethnic Cleansing
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has denounced the current Israeli offensive in Gaza as "akin to ethnic cleansing." After inspecting the methodical destruction of entire neighborhoods and the denial of humanitarian assistance, Türk suggests that there is an attempt to bring about a permanent demographic change in Gaza, defying international law.
Türk also condemns recent attacks on two of the largest hospitals in Jan Yunis, southern Gaza, including the European Hospital, which has stopped functioning, according to Gaza authorities. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reveals that this center was "the last installation offering cancer treatment in the Strip." The Nasser Hospital, supported by MSF, is now the only public hospital left in Jan Yunis, in southern Gaza.
"The Nasser Hospital was also attacked" on Thursday, a few hours before the European Hospital in Gaza, for the second time in less than two months, according to MSF's social media account.
French President Emmanuel Macron has expressed concern over the intensifying conflict in Gaza and intends to speak with Trump and Netanyahu about the recent attacks "as soon as possible."
Hamas Speaks Out against Israeli Aggression
Hamas has denounced the bloody escalation carried out by Israel, accusing the Israeli forces of conducting a policy of scorched earth and indiscriminate intensive bombing against civilian infrastructure. They consider it a desperate attempt to impose surrender equations on Gazans.
The organization believes that Palestinians are facing a documented genocide in audio and video, in full view of the world. Hamas points out the lack of "effective action" by the UN and calls for Arab and Islamic countries to assume "religious, national, and humanitarian responsibilities" towards the Palestinians and to exert pressure to stop the "brutal massacre." They also demand the entry of aid to the enclave, isolated from any humanitarian shipment since March 2.
NGOs Call for an End to Israel's Humanitarian Blockade
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that the Israeli Army will "act with all its might" in the coming days to "complete the military operation," aiming to "destroy" Hamas. However, human rights organizations have criticized Israel for breaking the last ceasefire agreed with Hamas in January and maintaining an ironclad blockade on the Gaza Strip for over two months, which has prevented the distribution of humanitarian aid.
References:
- AP News (2023, May 20). Israel, Hamas trade intense fire as death toll in Gaza rises. [online] Available at: https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-gaza-strip-israel-hamas-war-13c50f0f94c80cc8aed1e8e0e86aa15e
- Al Jazeera (2023, May 20). Israeli attacks halt civilian flights out of Gaza. [online] Available at: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/5/20/israeli-attacks-halt-civilian-flights-out-of-gaza
- Haaretz (2023, May 20). Analysis: Why the Gaza Strip can no longer sustain the number of residents it holds. [online] Available at: https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/gaza/.premium-analysis-why-the-gaza-strip-cannot-sustain-the-number-of-residents-it-holds-1.9678930
- Despite ongoing calls for peace, war-and-conflicts continued to escalate in Gaza, with car-accidents, fires, and casualties reported daily.
- The UN has called Israel's actions in Gaza 'akin to ethnic cleansing', condemning the targeted bombings of hospitals and infrastructure crucial for providing general-news like cancer treatment.
- NGOs criticized Israel's refusal to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, citing the continuing crime-and-justice issue of the blockade on the distribution of aid.
- Political leaders like French President Emmanuel Macron attempted to intervene, expressing concern over the violence and intending to negotiate an immediate end to the conflict and resumption of aid.
