Title: Escalating Civilian Toll in Gaza as Israeli Attacks Persist
The ongoing Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip have led to a rapid escalation of civilian deaths, as per the United Nations. Commissioner-General of the Palestinian Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, noted in a statement that the casualties are skyrocketing. Innocent civilians, including women, children, the elderly, sick individuals, and those with disabilities, have become the primary victims of this conflict.
With the restart of military operations and its expansion to the south, the horrors of the recent past are being revisited, lamented Lazzarini. The bombardment by the Israeli armed forces continues after the evacuation order was issued for the residents in the city of Chan Junis to move to Rafah. This mandate has sparked panic, fear, and unrest among the population. Nearly 60,000 individuals have been compelled to seek refuge in already overcrowded UNRWA shelters, and others are seeking protection. Many of these individuals had previously fled the conflict and sought refuge in different parts of the sealed-off region.
The evacuation order places people in an area representing less than a third of the Gaza Strip, making it challenging for them to secure the necessities – food, water, shelter, and, most importantly, safety. However, claims that the UN had thousands of tents and planned to establish new refugee camps in Rafah are false. Regrettably, no place in Gaza feels safe – neither in the south nor in the southwest, neither in Rafah nor in any designated "safe zone."
In a worrying turn of events, the Israeli army has deployed an evacuation map that meticulously divides the Gaza Strip into numerous small zones to inform civilians about combat zones. Critics assert, however, that many Palestinians lack access to the necessary resources, such as electricity and internet, to consult the map. Moreover, many are unaware of how to use it effectively. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who had evacuated from the north at Israel's behest are now congregated in the southern part of Gaza.
The Middle East conflict has resulted in numerous civilian casualties. As per Hamas's Ministry of Health, Israeli counter-attacks have claimed the lives of over 15,900 individuals so far. Although these figures cannot be independently verified, the UN and other observers acknowledge that the ministry's past assertions have been mostly accurate.
The war's origin can be traced back to the most devastating massacre in Israeli history, carried out by terrorists from Hamas and other extremist groups near the Israeli-Gaza Strip border on October 7. Subsequently, over 1,200 individuals lost their lives on the Israeli side; at least 850 of these casualties were civilians.
Additional Insights
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is multi-faceted, with the displaced population grappling with acute shortages of water, food, and shelter, as well as the destruction of critical infrastructure. The health system is on the brink of collapse, with many essential services barely operable. The psychological trauma suffered by numerous individuals, particularly children, has escalated, leading to increased cases of trauma, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
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Tags: Middle East Conflict, Israeli Attacks, Gaza Strip, Civilian Casualties, Humanitarian Crisis, Hamas, Extremist Groups, Israeli-Gaza Strip Border.
