Israel expands Gaza operations as Palestinian death toll surpasses 44,000
The Ministry of Health in Gaza has reported a devastating rise in casualties, with over 44,664 civilians killed and 105,976 injured since the escalation of Israeli hostilities began on 7 October 2023. Within the past 24 hours alone, Israeli forces carried out four massacres, resulting in 52 deaths and 142 injuries across the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli army launched Saturday an unexpected and limited ground incursion into the northwest area of Rafah in southern Gaza. According to eyewitness accounts provided to Anadolu Agency, the operation occurred without prior warning to Palestinian residents. Medical teams evacuated some families trapped in the area, but dangerous conditions prevented the rescue of others.
The United Nations Human Rights Office in the occupied Palestinian territories has condemned Israel’s targeting of displacement sites, warning that such actions “amount to war crimes” and could also qualify as crimes against humanity if part of a systematic attack on civilians.
In a statement issued Friday, the UN highlighted a recent Israeli airstrike that hit a temporary displacement camp in the Al-Mawasi area of Khan Yunis. The camp, located in a zone designated by Israel as a “safe humanitarian area,” housed 21 families. The UN has called for “independent investigations” into these attacks and urged the international community to uphold accountability for violations of international law.
The ongoing Israeli operations in Gaza have drawn widespread criticism for their disregard for civilian safety. Despite declaring certain zones as “safe,” continued airstrikes and incursions have made evacuation efforts perilous. Humanitarian organizations have repeatedly warned of the deteriorating security and health conditions in the besieged enclave.
The growing civilian death toll and the destruction of essential infrastructure have amplified calls for an immediate ceasefire and independent investigations into potential violations of international humanitarian law.
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