On the nineteenth day of the Israeli aggression in Gaza

• The Israeli Occupation’s efforts to depict the Palestinian resistance as akin to ISIS failed, as evident in the statement of released Israeli captive Yocheved Lifshitz, who countered the Occupation’s narrative by highlighting the humane treatment she experienced while in captivity. The fact that the Israeli media criticized Mrs Lifshitz’s statements, which were not subject to censorship, underscores the deceit and manipulation at play.

• Due to the Israeli Occupation’s blatant violations of international and humanitarian laws, the already struggling healthcare system in the besieged Gaza Strip, under a 17-year blockade, has collapsed.

• In a separate incident, Palestinian detainee Arif Hamdan, aged 24, was subjected to systematic torture in Israeli Occupation prisons and died two days after his arrest. This tragic event followed the martyrdom of prisoner Omar Daraghmeh, part of a widespread arrest campaign that has affected over 1,200 Palestinian citizens in the West Bank since the start of the aggression.

• The Israeli Occupation has intensified its direct attacks on food security in Gaza, including preventing the entry of food supplies and deliberately targeting bakeries and food stores.

• The amount of explosives dropped on Gaza has exceeded 12,000 tons, equivalent to the size of the nuclear bomb the USA used on Hiroshima. Considering that Gaza’s area is only 365 square kilometres, this translates to 33 tons dropped per square kilometre.

• The scarcity of electricity, water, and fuel means that the amount of water available to Gaza residents is less than a quarter of their daily water requirement, roughly half a litre per person.

• Continuous Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) bombardment of homes and families has resulted in more than 37 targeted families, leading to 4,077 martyrs (representing 74% of the total number of martyrs).

• In one day alone, the intensive bombardment of Gaza resulted in 756 casualties, including 344 children and over 159 women and elderly individuals, along with 1,142 injuries, 70% of whom are children, women, and elders.

• The cumulative number of martyrs since the onset of the Israeli aggression until 11:59 pm yesterday reached 6,547, comprising 2,704 children (41% of total martyrs) and 1,741 women and elderly individuals (27% of martyrs), not including those still trapped under the rubble.

• The total number of injured individuals since the beginning of the aggression until 11:59 pm yesterday reached 17,439, with 5,770 children (33% of total injuries) and 5,205 women and elderly individuals (30% of injuries). There are still many individuals at risk, and this figure does not encompass those trapped under the rubble.

• The Israeli Occupation is intensifying its aggression against the Palestinian people in the West Bank, erecting 468 checkpoints that hinder movement between Palestinian villages, resulting in the martyrdom of 98 individuals, injuries to over 1,773, and the detention of 1,235 people since the commencement of the ongoing aggression. Additionally, Israeli settlers’ assaults have increased to 232.

We call upon Arab and Muslim Ummah and the global community to take a firm and unambiguous stance in supporting the Palestinian resistance within international organizations. It is imperative to hold the international community accountable for its failure to implement UN resolutions aimed at a just resolution to the Palestinian issue, including the right of refugees to return, the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, and exposing the false narrative propagated by the Israeli Occupation. Furthermore, we encourage these countries to reject any international resolution that compromises the Palestinian people’s right to resist the occupation, which lies at the heart of the region’s instability, using all available means. It is essential to activate international laws that recognize and uphold this right. The stated and unstated objectives of the ongoing Israeli Occupation’s aggression will ultimately prove futile in the face of the unwavering determination of our people and their resistance.

On the 18^th  Day of the Israeli Genocide in Gaza

• On the eighteenth day of the Israeli aggression in Gaza, the Israeli Occupation is accused of perpetrating genocide against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip. The Western countries are complicit in these actions by providing political support, which has been ongoing since the occupation’s establishment on Palestinian land in previous decades.

• Additionally, the Israeli Occupation Authorities are blamed for the killing of Hamas member Omar Daraghmeh, who was killed in their custody within a week of his detention, even though he had no prior health issues. The responsibility for his murder is placed directly on the Israeli Occupation.

• The Gaza Strip is facing severe challenges, including power shortages, a lack of fuel for generators, and shortages of medicines and medical supplies. As a result, 12 hospitals in Gaza, including Beit Hanoun Hospital, Martyr Muhammad Al-Durrah Hospital, Happy Yemen Hospital, International Eye Hospital, and others, are completely non-operational. Moreover, 32 primary healthcare centres are closed for the same reasons.

• Hospital bed occupancy rates in Gaza have exceeded capacity, with rates reaching 112% in the Gaza Strip’s hospitals and 147% in the largest hospital, Al-Shifa Hospital. This has forced the treatment of patients and the wounded in tents and hospital corridors.

• Since the beginning of the Israeli aggression, exhausted Gaza hospitals have performed over 2,600 emergency surgeries, significantly more than their capacity can handle. These surgeries took place in six hospitals, with the majority (38%) at Al-Shifa Hospital.

• Furthermore, there have been continued Israeli bombardments of homes and families, resulting in more than 644 targeted families and 4,294 casualties, constituting 74% of the total number of casualties.

• The situation is dire, with 704 citizens losing their lives in a single day due to 400 raids, while 1,024 individuals were injured, of which 70% were children, women, and the elderly. The total number of casualties since the aggression’s outset is staggering, with 5,719 casualties, including 2,360 children and 1,585 women and elders.

• The Israeli Occupation’s aggression extends to the West Bank, where 468 checkpoints hinder movement between Palestinian villages, leading to 98 casualties, over 1,773 injuries, and 1,235 detentions since the start of the Israeli aggression. Additionally, settler assaults have reached 232 against Palestinian people.

In a press statement, Salamah Ma’rouf, the Head of the Government’s Media Office, stated that the deliberate targeting of civilians by the Nazi occupation reflects their political, security, and military bankruptcy. He also expressed concern about the international community’s silence, which has emboldened the occupation to continue its aggression and urged the world to take action. Marouf highlighted the ongoing genocide and ethnic cleansing in Gaza, emphasizing the need for immediate intervention to stop the humanitarian crisis. He criticized the failure of international resolutions to address the situation and questioned the application of international laws and values when it comes to Palestinian rights. Marouf stressed that the world is closely watching the Israeli occupation’s crimes against humanity and called for a reevaluation of the international system’s credibility and countries’ commitment to human rights.

• On the seventeenth day of the Israeli aggression in Gaza, the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) escalated their operations against Palestinian civilians due to their inability to counter the resistance. Children were the most affected, accounting for 41% of the casualties and 33% of the injuries. Women and the elderly were the second-largest group, representing 26.3% of casualties and 28% of injuries. More than half of the missing individuals under the rubble are children, while women and the elderly make up 32%.

• To deal with the overcrowded morgues in hospitals, a new mass grave was opened to bury 48 unidentified individuals, bringing the total to 149. About 45% of housing units in Gaza were damaged, with 17,000 destroyed completely and over 12,000 rendered uninhabitable. Approximately 150,000 housing units suffered moderate to partial damage.

• Over 1.4 million people have been displaced due to direct targeting and continued indiscriminate bombings, which is 60% of Gaza’s population. Many found refuge in shelters, while others sought refuge with friends and relatives.

• The IOF continued to target healthcare personnel, resulting in the martyrdom of 57 doctors, nurses, and paramedics, with 100 more injured. They also targeted 25 ambulances in service.

• All neonatal units in Gaza face a severe shortage of life-saving medicines, and the imminent fuel shortage may lead to ventilator failure, risking the lives of 144 newborns.

• With continued attacks on homes and families, the number of targeted families has exceeded 597, resulting in 3,813 casualties.

• On Monday, October 23, 2023, there were 436 casualties, including 182 children and more than 123 women and the elderly, in addition to 1,028 injured, with 70% being children, women, and the elderly.

• As of 11:59 pm yesterday, the total number of martyrs since the start of the aggression was 5,087, including 2,055 children (40.4% of the total) and 1,336 women and the elderly (26.3%). This count does not include those still under the rubble. The total number of injured reached 15,273, with 4,992 children (33% of the total) and 4,276 women and the elderly (28% of the injured). Many remain in danger, and this count excludes those under the rubble.

• The Israeli Occupation has also escalated aggression in the West Bank, resulting in 98 martyrs, more than 1,773 injured, and 1,235 detentions since the beginning of the ongoing aggression.

On the seventeenth day of the “Israeli” genocide war, the Islamic Resistance

Movement (HAMAS) affirms that:

• The international community must bear responsibility for halting these genocidal acts by the Israeli Occupation Forces, which continue to occur under international watch.

• Since the international community has been ineffective in implementing resolutions related to Palestinian rights, including the right of return and self-determination, Palestinians have the right to resist the occupation, which has endured for 76 years.

• The Palestinian people will persist in their resistance to defend their rights, which have been denied for nearly eight decades, and stand united against oppression.

Humanitarian Crisis Unfolds as Israeli Occupation Continues Aggression in Gaza and the West Bank

• On the sixteenth day of the genocidal war in Gaza, following 16 days of intense warfare, the Israeli Occupation is committing crimes against over 2.35 million citizens. They are systematically targeting and killing civilians, subjecting them to inhumane living conditions aimed at eradicating the population in Gaza. This includes depriving them of essential necessities like water, medicine, food, and electricity.

• The living conditions in the already besieged Gaza Strip remain dire, and the 20 aid trucks that recently entered the Strip are far from meeting the minimum requirements. During the siege, 500 trucks used to enter Gaza daily, so these 20 trucks covered only 0.25% of the basic needs.

• The Israeli Occupation has intensified its attacks on markets, which already suffer from a severe shortage of food supplies. The Nuseirat and Khan Yunis markets were targeted, resulting in numerous casualties and the destruction of large portions of these markets. Additionally, 15 gatherings of citizens in markets and near bakeries were documented as being targeted.

• For 16 consecutive days, the Israeli Occupation has been notably targeting children, with 1,873 killed and more than 4,600 wounded, while over 730 children are still missing, many of them buried under the rubble.

• Places of worship have not been spared, with 31 mosques destroyed and severe damage to 10 others. The Greek Orthodox Church and three other churches were also damaged.

• More than a third of the buildings in Gaza have been damaged, with over 15,000 housing units completely destroyed and 13,000 severely damaged. As a result of the continued bombings on safe homes and families, the number of targeted families has exceeded 574, resulting in 3,603 casualties, including 83 families with more than 10 members among the martyrs.

• The number of casualties just in the most recent day reached 266 citizens, including 117 children and more than 87 women and elderly individuals, in addition to 684 injuries, 71% of which are children, women, and elderly.

• Since the start of the aggression, there have been 4,651 casualties, including 1,873 children (40% of the total), and 1,390 women and elderly (30% of the casualties). This count does not include those still trapped under rubble.

• Since the beginning of the aggression, the number of injured individuals has reached 14,245, including 4,604 children (32% of the total) and 4,410 women and elderly (31% of the injured). Many injured individuals are still in danger, and this doesn’t account for those still trapped under the rubble.

• The number of missing individuals, as of the most recent data, is 1,500 citizens, most of whom are still believed to be trapped under debris.

• In addition to Gaza, the Israeli Occupation is escalating its aggression in the West Bank, leading to 92 casualties, over 1,400 injuries, and the arrest of 1,250 individuals since the start of the ongoing aggression.

On the sixteenth day of the Israeli aggression, the Islamic Resistance Movement (HAMAS) stated:

• Despite the brutal actions of the Israeli Occupation against Palestinian civilians, including the use of internationally prohibited weapons, we remain committed to Islamic and humanitarian principles and international agreements regarding civilians in our custody. We ensure their humane treatment and release without charges as soon as security conditions allow.

• There will be no negotiations or talks about captured enemy combatants until the aggression ceases.

• Our people will never surrender or raise the white flag; victory is our goal.

Continuing Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza: Urgent Calls for International Action

• On the fifteenth day of the Israeli aggression in Gaza, the genocide against its 2.35 million citizens continues. This ongoing crime has targeted various aspects of life, including infrastructure, service institutions, hospitals, schools, universities, banks, bakeries, and roads. Additionally, entire neighbourhoods have been destroyed.

• The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) have targeted more than 135,000 residential buildings, which represent 33% of the structures in the Gaza Strip. Of these, over 15,000 residential units have been completely destroyed, and more than 12,000 units have been severely damaged and are no longer habitable.

• The number of missing individuals is still rising, with over 1,400 people reported missing, including 725 children, most of whom are believed to be trapped under the rubble.

• The IOF has also continued to target educational institutions, with 160 schools affected. The severe shortage of civil defence equipment, along with the direct targeting of civil defence workers by the IOF, has impeded rescue efforts and increased Palestinian casualties.

• The IOF’s bombardment of homes and families has resulted in over 550 targeted families, leading to 3,353 martyrs, including 80 families with more than 10 members among the victims.

• In just one day, the number of martyrs reached 248 citizens, including 95 children, more than 83 women, and elderly individuals and 399 injured, with 66% being children, women, and elderly.

• Since the beginning of the aggression, there have been 4,385 martyrs, including 1,756 children (40% of the total), and 1,315 women and elders (30% of the martyrs). These figures do not include those still trapped under the rubble.

• The number of injured individuals since the start of the aggression has reached 13,561, including 4,378 children (32% of the total) and 4,250 women and elders (31% of the injured). Many of the injured are still in danger, and this count does not include those trapped under the rubble.

• On Friday, October 20, 2023, a woman and her daughter, both holding American citizenship, were handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) following a decision by the Hamas leadership to close the file of civilians in their custody if appropriate security conditions are met.

• Furthermore, the Israeli Occupation has continued to directly target Palestinian people in the West Bank, resulting in 88 martyrs, more than 1,684 injured, and the arrest of 1,145 individuals since the beginning of the ongoing aggression.

As the relentless Zionist aggression persists, bolstered by unwavering American-Western support that often employs double standards, discriminates between different communities and faiths when it comes to human rights, and unjustly applies international law and humanitarian principles, we earnestly urge the global community to rectify this imbalance and advocate for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. We implore the international community to work towards the realization of the Palestinian people’s rightful aspirations, including the establishment of an independent Palestinian state encompassing the entire Palestinian territory, with al-Quds as its capital.

Relentless Israeli Aggression in Gaza: Tragedy Unfolds, Historic Church Targeted

Israeli forces continue their relentless aggression on the Gaza Strip for the fourteenth consecutive day, with a focus on residential areas and civilian facilities, resulting in widespread violence and devastating casualties among Palestinian families. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry’s recent report on Friday, the death toll in Gaza has surpassed 4,100, and the number of wounded individuals now exceeds 13,000. These figures represent a catastrophic increase from the previous day when the death toll stood at 3,800. Simultaneously, in the West Bank, the Ministry reported that the total number of Palestinians killed by Israeli gunfire since October 7 has reached 81, with 13 lives lost in a single day between Thursday and Friday in Tulkarm’s Nour Shams camp, including five children.

The Gaza Strip has witnessed a devastating series of attacks, with the Israeli occupation being accused of embarking on a campaign that poses a grave threat to the minority Christian population there, estimated to be around 1,000 people. One of the most alarming incidents involved the bombing of a 1,700-year-old church, one of the oldest in the region. This act not only targeted a religious site but also the sanctuary where civilian refugees sought safety. The attack resulted in numerous injuries and casualties, including the loss of entire families. The Greek Orthodox Monastery of Saint Porphyrius, housing individuals from various religious backgrounds, was a place of refuge for hundreds. Tragically, this underscores the indiscriminate nature of the Israeli occupation’s attacks on residential structures, pushing the residents of Gaza to seek safety in churches, mosques, and schools, only to witness these sanctuaries being bombed.

The Ministry of Interior in Gaza has officially reported a distressing incident where Israeli occupation forces executed a devastating attack, resulting in the loss of lives and injuries to a considerable number of displaced individuals inside the historic Greek Orthodox Church of St. Porphyrius in Gaza City. The occupation forces deliberately aimed at this ancient church situated on Omar al-Mukhtar Street in the Gaza Strip, causing substantial damage to both the church and an adjacent structure. Of historical significance, the Church of St. Porphyrius, dating back to 425 AD and renovated in 1856, holds the distinction of being the third oldest church globally. The Ministry emphasized that the church had offered sanctuary to numerous displaced people, primarily women and children, contributing to the deepening humanitarian crisis in the region.

Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Sebastia in occupied al-Quds, Atallah Hanna, decried the bombing of the church as a new massacre by the Israeli occupation and an attack on Christian heritage. He emphasized that the occupation’s actions were targeting the Christian presence not only in Gaza but across all of Palestine, where Christians are an integral part of the community. Archbishop Hanna urgently called on religious leaders, including His Holiness the Pope, and church leaders worldwide to take a clear and explicit stance in support of the people of Gaza who are suffering due to Israeli attacks. He criticized the West for its support of Israel’s actions and called on every free person and Arab to act immediately to halt the ongoing aggression, stating that the situation in Gaza constitutes more than just a war; it is a genuine catastrophe. Archbishop Hanna also highlighted the arrest of Palestinian youths who expressed support for Gaza online and stressed the importance of countering efforts to manipulate the image of Palestine on social media. He noted that Palestinians are more united than ever in the face of Israeli aggression, and there is growing global awareness of the situation, regardless of their governments’ stances.

Escalation of Israeli Aggression on Gaza: Humanitarian Crisis Deepens

The Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip persisted overnight from Wednesday into Thursday, leaving civilians and journalists with the grim reality that nowhere seemed safe. The situation escalated as Israel intensified its bombing campaign, with the Rafah district being the primary target, resulting in dozens of Palestinian casualties and significant damage to roads leading from the border crossing with Egypt. Al Jazeera reported a tragic toll of at least 121 martyrs and 540 injuries in Gaza since Wednesday evening.

In the al-Zahra neighbourhood, Palestinian media reported that Israeli warplanes carried out a devastating attack, completely demolishing four residential towers immediately after nearly 100 Palestinians had evacuated the premises. The United Nations has reported that a staggering number of people in Gaza, nearly one million, equating to almost half the population, have been displaced after fleeing their homes. Among these displaced Gazans, approximately 352,000 individuals are now seeking refuge in schools managed by UNRWA.

Simultaneously, Israeli forces continued to target Palestinian youth through deadly military raids in the West Bank. Overnight on Wednesday and into Thursday, at least seven Palestinians, including four children, tragically lost their lives to Israeli forces during these raids. This brought the West Bank death toll to at least 69 Palestinians since October 7. Among these casualties, 16-year-old Taha Mahameed was shot and killed during confrontations in the Nur Shams refugee camp, which Israel’s military had placed under siege. Reports included soldiers restricting movement, raiding homes, and bulldozing streets.

Israeli forces also killed 14-year-old Ahmad Saduq in Bethlehem, Qais Shalash, 17, Khalil Khalil, 15, Mohammad Fawaqam, 21, and Jibril Awad in villages west of Ramallah. In the Nablus governorate, Israeli forces killed Ibrahim al-Hajj Ali, 24. Further, the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society reported that Israel detained at least 120 Palestinians, including lawmakers, civic leaders, former prisoners, and journalists. This alarming figure contributes to the overall count of at least 850 Palestinians detained since October 7. Additionally, settler violence against Palestinians, often under the protection of the Israeli occupation forces, continues to be a concerning issue.

A press conference held by Mr. Iyad Al-Buzm, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior and National Security in Gaza, took place at Al-Shifa Hospital. Mr Al-Buzm emphasized the dire situation, announcing that the Rafah crossing, the sole gateway for Gaza to connect with the outside world, has been closed for the thirteenth consecutive day. This ongoing closure compounds the tragic humanitarian crisis in the region, and there is an urgent call for the crossing to be reopened. He stated that it is essential to allow the entry of humanitarian aid and essential supplies for the besieged people in Gaza. Furthermore, he emphasized that it is crucial to permit the travel of the wounded, whose numbers now exceed 13,000, surpassing the hospitals’ capacity in the Gaza Strip.

In a separate press statement, Salama Marouf, the Head of the Government Media Office, decried a new and criminal act by the occupying forces, as they deliberately targeted and shelled the vicinity of bakeries, where dozens of citizens were queuing to purchase bread, resulting in numerous casualties and hundreds of injuries. He illustrated that the ongoing targeting of bakery areas underscores the absence of red lines in their actions, making it increasingly challenging for civilians to access basic necessities. Marouf called upon the international community to condemn this atrocity and intervene urgently to halt the occupying forces’ assault, with women and children being the most affected.

The Ministry of Health’s reports indicate that the number of casualties resulting from the Israeli aggression has risen to 3,785 martyrs, including 1,524 children, 1,000 women, and 120 elderly individuals. Additionally, 12,493 others have sustained various injuries, including 3,983 children and 3,300 women.

The Israeli occupation’s massacre at Baptist hospital

Dr. Ashraf al-Qedra, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, shared harrowing information about the unfathomable massacre at Baptist Hospital, committed by the Zionist occupation. The brutality witnessed at this hospital is incomprehensible and cannot be put into words. He revealed that numerous victims were brought to the hospital, their conditions so severe that medical teams were struggling to piece together dismembered bodies. Tragically, a significant portion of the victims are innocent children and women, their features distorted by the sheer severity of the injuries they sustained. The extent of the casualties and the severity of injuries have overwhelmed medical professionals and the available ambulances. Physicians have been forced to conduct surgeries on the floor and in hallways, some without proper anaesthesia, as they grapple with the influx of patients. As the medical staff grapples with a surge in patients, a considerable number await surgeries, while others fight for their lives in intensive care units. The remaining medical resources are dwindling fast, and the situation is rapidly approaching a critical point where essential supplies will be entirely exhausted.

In a statement by Ismail Haniyeh, the Head of the Political Bureau of Hamas, he addressed the recent massacre at Baptist Hospital in Gaza. Haniyeh emphasized that this horrific event serves as a stark reminder of the enemy’s brutality and represents a clear testament to the resounding defeat of the occupying forces. The Baptist massacre, he noted, joins a grim series of massacres committed by the occupation since its initial presence in Palestine. Haniyeh illustrated that the enemy displays a lack of respect for values, laws, and principles, as they have dared to violate the sanctities of Allah and transgressed His boundaries on the land, within holy sites, and in the lives of the Palestinian people and the Ummah.

Highlighting the enduring spirit of resistance, Haniyeh declared that it would persist until the occupiers departed from Palestinian soil and sacred places. He firmly dismissed any illusion the enemy might hold, suggesting that its massacres could conceal its resounding defeat or coerce the Palestinian people into submission. Haniyeh issued a call to action, urging the Palestinian people in the West Bank, al-Quds, and within 48 Occupied territories to take to the streets and vehemently denounce the Israeli aggression. Furthermore, he extended an impassioned appeal to the Arab and Islamic Ummah, urging them to unite in condemnation of this monstrous massacre.

Protests have erupted throughout the region in response to Israel’s bombing of a hospital in Gaza on Tuesday night, and they have continued into Wednesday. Demonstrations of significant scale were reported in Jordan, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Tunisia, Libya, Morocco, Yemen, and Turkey. Protesters gathered outside Israeli missions and embassies in Turkey and Jordan, with some attempting to storm the Israeli embassy. In the occupied West Bank, a general strike and three days of mourning were declared, leading to widespread protests and clashes with Palestinian Authority Security Forces. Calls for political change and government opposition were voiced in the demonstrations.

Ashraf al-Qedra, the Gaza Ministry of Health Spokesperson, addressed the severe consequences of the ongoing 12-day Israeli aggression in a press conference.

• The successive massacres committed by the Israeli occupation constitute ethnic cleansing and a severe threat to the Palestinian existence.
• The targeting of hospitals and the commission of an indescribable massacre within Baptist Hospital premises pose a grave danger to the healthcare system.
• The casualty toll of the massacre committed by the occupation within Baptist Hospital has reached 471 martyrs, with 28 in critical condition, in addition to 314 injuries of varying severity.
• The total casualties from the Israeli aggression for the twelfth consecutive day stand at 3,478 martyrs and 12,065 with various injuries.
• Seventy per cent of the victims of the Israeli aggression are children, women, and the elderly.
• The massacres perpetrated by the Israeli occupation against families have affected 433 families, with 2,421 martyrs among them, and hundreds are still buried under the rubble.
• We have received around 1,300 reports of missing individuals beneath the rubble, including 600 children.
• It is anticipated that there are survivors among the missing beneath the rubble but accessing them is extremely challenging due to continuous targeting and limited resources.
• As hospitals are on the brink of an actual collapse, the coming hours are critical for the future of providing healthcare services to patients and the wounded.

Gaza Humanitarian Crisis Escalates: Daily Update on Ongoing Israeli Aggression

The condition in Gaza is worsening as the residents endure the 11th consecutive day of relentless attacks by Israeli occupation forces. The humanitarian crisis is severe due to Israel’s complete blockade of the region, which is preventing the delivery of essential items such as food, water, medical resources, and fuel into the Gaza Strip.

In the southern Bureij region, which the Israeli occupation forces had designated as a ‘safe’ zone for civilians to seek refuge, a massacre occurred in a school where refugees had taken shelter. In Khan Younis, another family was targeted by an airstrike, resulting in the death of 30 people as their house collapsed on top of them. These daily atrocities demonstrate a clear pattern of civilians being targeted in their homes, schools, and public streets.

According to Palestinian media reports, at least 71 Palestinians have been killed and dozens wounded in airstrikes hitting homes in Rafah and Khan Younis, both located in the southern part of Gaza. Shockingly, all of these casualties occurred in areas that were designated as “safe” zones by the Israeli army, where people had been directed to seek refuge. This disturbing pattern has emerged whereby the Israeli army instructs residents to flee to these areas only to subsequently bomb them.

As ambulances struggle to rescue survivors from the rubble and transport them to overcrowded hospitals, medical teams anticipate a rising death toll as many people remain trapped. Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, for instance, is overwhelmed, facing a shortage of medical supplies and urgently requesting a humanitarian corridor and medical assistance to cope with the overwhelming number of patients.

The daily update from the Government Media Office regarding the tally of the Israeli occupation’s ongoing aggression on Gaza for the eleventh consecutive day is as follows:

The occupation has committed 394 massacres against Palestinian families since the beginning of its aggression on Gaza on October 7th of this year, resulting in the martyrdom of 2,136 lives, with over 65% of them being women and children.

In the last 24 hours, 198 individuals have been martyred, and 575 citizens have been injured.

The total number of healthcare personnel martyred since the start of the aggression is 37, including doctors, nurses, and paramedics.

The number of child martyrs has risen to 940 boys and 1,032 girls.

33 healthcare facilities have ceased to function, and the occupation has taken 23 ambulances out of service through direct bombardment.

The occupation continues to target educational institutions. The Ministry of Education has documented damage to 153 schools, with 18 schools now out of service.

The occupation has completely demolished 4,500 residential buildings, comprising 12,000 housing units. Moreover, approximately 113,300 housing units have suffered partial damage, with 8,190 units rendered uninhabitable.

The Tragedy of Palestinian Families in the Face of Israeli Aggression

In an official statement released by the Government Media Office, it has been reported that, since the onset of the Al-Aqsa Flood, the occupying forces have committed 371 atrocities against Palestinian families, relentlessly bombarding their residences without any prior warning or notification. These harrowing acts have led to the martyrdom of 1981 lives, with a significant majority comprising children and women.

Furthermore, the number of martyrs in these massacres varied, with as few as three martyrs in the smallest incidents, such as the Raddwan, Abu Al-Raish, and Alwan families, and 42 martyrs in the Al-Najjar family massacre. Some of these families have been completely removed from the civil registry, as was the case with families like Shihab, Al-Najjar, Moukaranah, Noufal, and Dalou.

This surge in the frequency of massacres over a short period underscores the inhumanity and brutality of the Israeli occupation, epitomized by relentless and indiscriminate bombings targeting entire residential neighbourhoods. It also sheds light on the international community’s inaction, as it has largely remained silent in the face of these heinous crimes against innocent civilians.

Additionally, the government’s media office has declared that the Israeli occupation’s bombing of the Civil Defense headquarters, resulting in the martyrdom of five of its team members and the injury of eight others, constitutes a new war crime that necessitates accountability, prosecution, and punishment. The government’s media office highlighted that the Civil Defense is a civilian entity providing rescue and firefighting services, and its teams have been targeted multiple times during their field missions since the beginning of the aggression.

Instead of responding to the international call for assistance issued by the Civil Defense just hours before, requesting the necessary rescue equipment and devices to extract hundreds of martyrs and expedite the evacuation of the injured from beneath the rubble of the demolished buildings, the occupation directly targeted its headquarters, defying the world and disregarding all agreements that safeguard the protection of rescue teams and mandate the provision of necessary assistance to ensure the success of their missions.

This heinous crime demands a practical international response commensurate with its gravity, requiring immediate intervention from international organizations, foremost among them the International Committee of the Red Cross, to protect the Civil Defense teams and supply them with the required equipment to carry out their missions in rescuing the wounded and retrieving the martyrs.

Meanwhile, during a press conference held by the Ministry of Health, Dr Ashraf al-Qedra, the ministry’s spokesperson, stated, “Approximately 1200 reports of missing individuals trapped under the rubble of their homes have been recorded, including around 500 reports of missing children. We hope that some of them are still alive.” The Ministry of Health has also announced that the number of martyrs brought to hospitals has reached 2778 martyrs and 9938 wounded individuals as of now.

Moreover, between October 7 and October 15, Israel’s occupying forces detained close to 600 Palestinians in various regions, including the West Bank, Jerusalem, and ’48 occupied Palestine. Among those detained, six were children, as reported by the Addameer prisoners’ rights organization. On one specific Sunday night, Israel carried out a mass detention of 70 Palestinians, including two journalists, with 28 of them reportedly detained in Nablus, Ramallah, and Bethlehem, according to the Wafa News Agency.

Consequently, it is important to note that before the Al-Aqsa Flood operation, there were approximately 5,200 Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons. Addameer has expressed concerns that Israel is engaged in widespread arbitrary detentions and inflicting collective punishments on Palestinian prisoners. This has included nighttime raids on homes over the past week, causing severe damage to personal property and posing threats of harm to detainees and their families, all while using excessive force. Additionally, the Israel Prison Service (IPS) cut off the electricity supply for four consecutive days in the notorious Naqab desert prison for Palestinian prisoners. In Nafha, Ramon, and Ofer prisons, Israeli prison officials disrupted the provision of both water and electricity to the prisoners.

In addition, visits from families and lawyers were prohibited, and the prison canteens remained shut, leaving the prisoners dependent on “two small and low-quality meals.” Further, prisoners who are affiliated with Hamas are segregated from the rest of the prisoners. According to Addameer, these worsening conditions can be attributed to the lack of international response to the occupation’s long-standing transgressions and the absence of any mechanism for holding it accountable.

In light of these developments, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has rejected Western pressure to condemn the Hamas movement and reaffirmed his government’s commitment to maintaining relations with the group. He noted that Western officials have consistently urged Malaysia to condemn Hamas, but his government disagrees with this approach. Anwar emphasized that Malaysia has had a pre-existing relationship with Hamas, and they intend to continue it. He highlighted that Hamas was democratically elected in Gaza, and the people in Gaza chose them as their leaders.

On his part, Colombia president Gustavo Petro has threatened to sever diplomatic ties with Israel after they halted military exports to Colombia. Petro’s response came in the wake of Israel’s suspension, triggered by his social media posts drawing parallels between Gaza and World War II concentration camps where Nazis killed millions of Jews and decrying what he termed the “genocide” of Palestinian civilians. Israeli spokesperson Lior Haiat commented that Petro’s statements support Hamas, fuel anti-Semitism, and affect the Israeli representation and the Jewish community in Colombia. In response, Israel took the initial step of suspending security exports to Colombia, including the supply of unassembled Galil rifles. Petro, resolute in his stance, has emphasized his readiness to sever foreign relations with Israel, underlining his staunch opposition to any form of genocide.