Israel starves 3 Palestinians to death; Gaza City assault intensifies
Monitoring Desk
GAZA: Three Palestinians have starved to death and at least 56 Palestinians, including 22 aid seekers, have been killed in Israeli attacks across Gaza in 24 hours, according to the enclave’s Health Ministry.
Meanwhile, our team on the ground has reported an intensification of Israeli assault on Gaza City where residential neighbourhoods “are coming under some of the fiercest Israeli attacks we have seen in recent weeks”.
Israeli rights group Gisha has debunked a series of Israeli government talking points that seek to minimise and evade responsibility for the starvation crisis unfolding in Gaza.
Israel says there is no hunger in Gaza, a claim rejected outright by Gisha. “The reports, testimonies, and images from Gaza leave no room for doubt – the population is being starved,” it says.
Despite Israel’s claim that the United Nations is to blame for a lack of humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip, Gisha says “Israel has used its control over aid entry as a weapon of war since day one” of its military offensive. “Israel has created and continues to create conditions that make the transfer of aid into Gaza almost impossible,” it said.
While Israeli leaders accuse Hamas of intercepting aid supplies, Gisha says they have never presented any evidence to back up their claim. Recent reports from the UN, USAID and media outlets also found no evidence of Hamas stealing aid, Gisha adds.
Israel has long argued that it is not responsible for providing for the needs of Palestinians in Gaza. But Gisha stresses that, under international law, the country remains the occupying power in Gaza and therefore must ensure the welfare of civilians under its control.
Hamas calls for global strike for Gaza tomorrow: The Palestinian group is urging people around the world, including those in Arab and Muslim countries, to take part in the strike on Thursday to show support for people in Gaza.
“The occupation army’s plans to occupy Gaza, and the resulting aggression and displacement of more than one million people, represent a new chapter in the war of extermination,” Hamas said in a statement shared on Telegram.
“We warn against the international silence regarding the occupation’s crimes and urge the world to take urgent action to stop the massacres and starvation, and to end the aggression and siege.”
