Israel’s Military Campaign Targets Hamas
On Tuesday, Israel announced the commencement of a large-scale ground and air offensive against Gaza City, aiming to “eliminate” the Islamist Hamas movement. The offensive was triggered by Hamas’s attack on Israeli soil on October 7, 2023.
Humanitarian Crisis and Displacement
The ongoing conflict has resulted in a humanitarian catastrophe and devastated the small territory, which has been under siege by Israel. The nearly two million residents have had to relocate multiple times.
“It’s like living the final judgment or hell, but even hell would be more merciful,” says Fatima Lubbad, who walked with her four children for about ten kilometers to reach Deir al Balah from Gaza City the previous day.
Day and night, Palestinians are fleeing the largest city, carrying their few belongings, following military evacuation calls, according to AFP images.
However, Oum Ahmed Younes, 44, states she cannot afford the high transportation costs. Moreover, “tents or camping gear are either unavailable or exorbitantly priced. It’s cheaper to die.”
Temporary Passage Route Announced by Israeli Military
Israeli military announced the opening of a “temporary passage route” through the Salah al Din road, which crosses Gaza’s center from north to south.
However, this corridor will only remain open until Friday noon (09:00 GMT).
Mass Exodus
According to UN estimates, around one million people lived in Gaza City and its surroundings by late August. Journalists from AFP have observed a new exodus in recent days, while the Israeli army reported on Wednesday that “more than 350,000” people had already left towards the south.
In response to this situation, Pope Leon XIII expressed solidarity with the Gazans and denounced their “forced” displacement for the second time.
The army continued bombing other areas of the Palestinian territory. The Gaza Civil Defense, operating under Hamas’s authority, reported at least 64 deaths, with 41 in Gaza City.
Since the ground offensive began in Gaza City on Tuesday, Israeli forces claimed to have attacked “more than 150 terrorist targets” in the city.
Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties accessing many areas prevent AFP from independently verifying the details provided by both sides.
In addition to its military campaign in Gaza, Israel has also targeted Hamas abroad and recently conducted an unprecedented bombing against several of its leaders in Qatar. Five Palestinian members of the Islamist movement and a Qatari policeman died in the attack.
Ghazi Hamad, one of Hamas’s leading figures, appeared in a live interview on Qatari channel Al Jazeera on Wednesday, the first high-ranking member of the group to resurface since then.
“Genocide in Gaza”
The Israeli offensive in Gaza City has been widely condemned both domestically and internationally, despite concerns in Israel about the hostages taken by Hamas in October 2023.
On Wednesday, chants in favor of Palestinians echoed at London’s Wembley Arena, which holds over 12,500 people, where tickets for a fundraising event organized by British musician and political activist Brian Eno sold out.
Notable attendees included actors Benedict Cumberbatch and Florence Pugh, documentarian Louis Theroux, along with Palestinian voices and human rights activists.
During their October 2023 attack, Islamist fighters killed 1,219 people in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official sources.
Of the 251 people taken hostage that day, 47 remain captive in Gaza, with 25 declared dead by the Israeli army.
Israel’s retaliatory campaign has killed at least 65,062 Palestinians in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to figures from the health ministry of the Hamas-governed territory, deemed reliable by the UN.
On Tuesday, the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry stated that “a genocide is taking place in Gaza.”
Israel “categorically” rejected this “biased and false” report.
Key Questions and Answers
- What triggered the current conflict? The conflict was sparked by Hamas’s attack on Israeli soil on October 7, 2023.
- How many people have been displaced? According to UN estimates, around one million people lived in Gaza City and its surroundings. Journalists from AFP have observed a new exodus, with more than 350,000 people reportedly leaving towards the south.
- What is the humanitarian situation in Gaza? The ongoing conflict has resulted in a humanitarian catastrophe and devastated the small territory, with nearly two million residents having to relocate multiple times.
- What is the international response to the conflict? The Israeli offensive in Gaza City has been widely condemned both domestically and internationally.
- What actions has Israel taken against Hamas abroad? Israel has conducted bombings against several leaders of Hamas in Qatar, resulting in the deaths of five Palestinian members and a Qatari policeman.
- What has the UN said about the situation in Gaza? The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry stated that “a genocide is taking place in Gaza,” which Israel rejected as “biased and false.”
