Image source, AFP
Comment on the image, A Palestinian woman following Israeli shelling of the UNRWA Abu Oreiban school, which was turned into a shelter for displaced persons, in the Nuseirat camp, in the central Gaza Strip, on July 14, 2024.
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The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported dozens of deaths and hundreds of injuries in Israeli shelling of various areas in Gaza. The water system in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip also ceased to function.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported that more than 60 people were killed and hundreds were injured in a series of Israeli air strikes and artillery shelling that occurred in various areas of the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours.
According to eyewitnesses, these raids continued until Tuesday followingnoon, with the last being a bombing targeting a civilian car and a gathering of people in the Al-Attar area, east of Khan Yunis city, in the southern Gaza Strip.
The Gaza Ministry of Health announced that the bombing resulted in the death of thirteen people and the injury of at least 26 others, according to a preliminary report.
Shortly following that raid, Israeli aircraft bombed a school housing displaced people in the Nuseirat camp in the central Gaza Strip, resulting in deaths and injuries, according to eyewitnesses.
At the same time, four Palestinians were killed and others were wounded in an Israeli bombardment of the town of Abasan al-Kabira, east of Khan Yunis.
In the Sheikh Zayed area of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, Marwan Sultan, director of the Indonesian Hospital, said that four people were killed and five others were wounded in an Israeli raid that targeted, according to him, a group of Palestinian citizens.
The Civil Defense Authority in the Gaza Strip said that its crews recovered the bodies of two women and three wounded people from a residential house that was targeted by Israeli aircraft at dawn on Tuesday in the “Camp 2” area of Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip. Artillery shelling continued from Israeli military vehicles stationed in the northern areas of the Strip, on the areas of Sheikh Zayed, Qleibo Hill, and Al-Sikka in Beit Hanoun.
Hamas: “Barbaric bombing”
Comment on the image, UNRWA staff inspect a damaged school following it was bombed by Israeli fighter jets, killing and injuring several, in the Nuseirat refugee camp in Deir al-Balah.
Hamas issued a press statement condemning the bombing of “the UNRWA Al-Razi School in the Nuseirat camp, and the Al-Mawasi area west of Khan Yunis,” which the Israeli army declared a safe area.
In its statement on Tuesday, the movement also condemned the bombing of a gathering of citizens in Sheikh Zayed, north of Gaza, and the continuation of what it described as “barbaric bombing” in several places in the Strip, which led to the deaths of dozens.
The text of its statement, which was published on its website, stated that what happened was “savage Nazism that makes humanity’s forehead blush, as the fascist occupation continues to commit the crime of genocide following it secured international punishment and accountability throughout the period of its brutal aggression once morest our people in the Gaza Strip.”
The movement held the US administration, led by President Biden, fully responsible for what it described as the “systematic killing” of Palestinians, due to its “continued political and military support” for the Israeli army, and due to its “obstruction of international justice in pursuing Zionist war criminals,” according to the statement.
Israeli army: Eliminating half of Hamas’ military leadership
Image source, AFP
Comment on the image, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a ceremony commemorating soldiers killed during Operation Protective Edge in the 2014 Gaza War, at the Memorial Hall on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem on July 16, 2024.
The Israeli army announced the elimination of half of the leadership of the military wing of Hamas, confirming that it killed or captured nearly 14,000 fighters since the beginning of the campaign on Gaza.
The army said in a statement on Tuesday that it had eliminated senior leaders, including brigade commanders, battalion commanders, and company commanders, and destroyed thousands of armed targets.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Tuesday to “increase the pressure” on Hamas following a series of escalating strikes on the Gaza Strip in more than nine months of war.
“This is exactly the time to increase the pressure even more, to return all the hostages – living and dead – to their homeland and to achieve all the goals of the war,” Netanyahu said at a memorial ceremony marking the 10th anniversary of the “Protective Edge” war on the Gaza Strip, repeating, “We will increase the pressure on Hamas.”
He added, “Hamas is under increasing pressure because we are harming it and eliminating its senior leaders and thousands of its terrorists. It is under pressure because we are steadfast in our just demands despite all the pressures exerted on us.”
“No security” in Shuja’iyya
An Israeli aircraft launched an airstrike on the Shujaiya neighborhood east of Gaza City on Monday, killing three Palestinians and injuring others.
Local sources reported to the Palestinian News Agency “Wafa” that the bombing targeted a group of citizens on Al-Mansoura Street in the Shuja’iyya neighborhood.
“There is no security,” said a woman, describing what happened in the Shujaiya neighborhood, where she returned to her home, trying to clean it up and live once more, like many residents of this neighborhood who return to it in an attempt to recover some of their belongings.
She added to the BBC that there was shelling on Mansoura Street, which resulted in three deaths, adding that her son was injured following a missile fell on the house, causing her son to suffer burns and the house to collapse.
“Where do we go? Everywhere there is shelling from artillery, aircraft and helicopters,” the woman asked.
Another woman witnessed the deaths behind her house on Souq al-Juma Street, confirming that al-Mansoura Street had turned into a “ghost area.” She added that the missile attack occurred while some people were on al-Muntar Hill in the Shuja’iyya neighborhood.
A little girl told the BBC: “When the bombing happened, I hid, I felt scared and started crying.”
The Palestinian Ministry of Health announced that the death toll from the war in the Gaza Strip since October 7 has risen to 38,713 people, in addition to 89,166 wounded.
Water “out of service” in Deir al-Balah
Comment on the image, Palestinians fill water from a UNICEF tanker in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, on July 9, 2024.
Deir al-Balah Municipality reported that all 19 wells and water tanks are out of service due to the depletion of the fuel needed to operate them.
The “Gaza Today” program monitored the voices of some displaced women in Deir al-Balah, who narrated their suffering due to the water scarcity, including a girl whose greatest hope was to drink fresh water instead of sea water.
“I wish I might drink sweet water instead of the salty water we drink and cook with,” she said.
This little girl says that she and her sisters have to go to the sea to bathe, because they cannot store water from desalination plants at home, except for a small amount that is not enough for drinking.
She adds that she and her family go to bed thirsty, and that they travel a long distance to reach the sea, which is four streets away.
The old lady complains regarding the scarcity and poor quality of water, describing the situation as extremely difficult, “When the water shipment arrives, people fight to get a gallon or two of water to drink.”
She added that the quality of the water varies daily, sometimes it is salty and other times it is full of chlorine, and sometimes some people are unable to obtain some water, so they are forced to go to the sea.
She explains that refilling a gallon of water now costs 4 shekels instead of 3 shekels, asking, “Where can we get three gallons a day?!”
Another woman has to ask for water from neighbouring tents to quench the thirst of her four-year-old daughter, who keeps crying from thirst.
She complained to the BBC regarding the appearance of pimples on her daughters’ bodies as a result of the heat and bathing in sea water, not to mention the process of filling water gallons that her daughters are responsible for while their father is ill.
Gaza Under Siege: A Humanitarian Crisis Unfolds
The ongoing conflict in Gaza has resulted in a devastating humanitarian crisis, with civilians bearing the brunt of the violence. The Palestinian Ministry of Health has reported a staggering number of casualties, with over 38,713 people killed and 89,166 injured since the start of the war on October 7. The continuous shelling and airstrikes by Israeli forces have left countless families displaced, families are struggling to survive amidst the relentless bombardment and a mounting humanitarian crisis.
The conflict has also had a devastating impact on Gaza’s infrastructure, including its water system. In the central Gaza Strip, the town of Deir al-Balah has been left without access to water for an extended period. The 19 wells and water tanks have been rendered inoperable due to fuel shortages, leaving residents to rely on sea water for their basic needs. The lack of safe drinking water has led to an increase in illnesses and a serious threat to public health.
Hamas: “Barbaric Bombing”
Hamas has vehemently condemned the Israeli military’s actions, calling them “barbaric bombing.” The organization’s statement emphasized that the bombing of UNRWA schools, including the Al-Razi School in the Nuseirat camp, constitutes a violation of international law and a deliberate targeting of civilians. Hamas has also accused the US administration of complicity in the “systematic killing” of Palestinians, citing its unwavering political and military support for Israel.
Israeli Army: Eliminating Half of Hamas’ Military Leadership
The Israeli military has claimed to have eliminated half of Hamas’s military leadership, stating that they have killed or captured nearly 14,000 fighters since the start of the campaign on Gaza. The army has also claimed to have destroyed thousands of armed targets. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared his intention to “increase the pressure” on Hamas, vowing to continue the military operation until all Israeli hostages are returned and all goals of the war are achieved.
“No Security” in Shuja’iyya
The Shujaiya neighborhood in Gaza City has been a focal point of the conflict, with numerous instances of Israeli airstrikes targeting civilian areas. A recent attack on Al-Mansoura Street resulted in the deaths of three Palestinians and injuries to several others. Residents of Shuja’iyya have been living in fear, struggling to rebuild their lives and navigate the dangerous realities of war.
Water “Out of service” in Deir al-Balah
The ongoing conflict has had a devastating impact on Gaza’s water system. In the central Gaza Strip, Deir al-Balah is facing an severe water crisis. All 19 wells and water tanks have been rendered inoperable due to a lack of fuel. This lack of access to clean drinking water has created a serious health hazard for residents, forcing many to consume sea water and endure the hardships associated with a shortage of such a vital resource.
The Devastation Continues
The ongoing conflict continues to devastate the lives of civilians in Gaza. The relentless bombing, shelling, and destruction of essential infrastructure are exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. The immediate need for humanitarian assistance is dire, as families struggle to obtain food, shelter, and medical care. International organizations and world leaders have a responsibility to ensure a cease-fire, facilitate humanitarian aid, and hold those responsible for war crimes accountable. Addressing the root causes of the conflict and working towards a lasting peace is crucial to prevent further suffering and ensure a safe future for the people of Gaza.
