NEW YORK, BRONX (ORDO News) — The situation in the Gaza Strip, which remains under an Israeli blockade, has reached a critical juncture, on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have issued a call for Gazans to evacuate to the southern part of the enclave within 24 hours.
Meanwhile, amid the ongoing conflict, allegations have emerged that Israel used white phosphorus in its strikes against the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, a controversial weapon banned for use in populated areas under international humanitarian law.
Here’s a comprehensive overview of the ongoing conflict in Palestine:
Call for Evacuation: Israel has informed the United Nations that 1.1 million Palestinians must evacuate to the southern Gaza Strip within 24 hours. The IDF’s reasoning behind this call is the alleged presence of Hamas militants in tunnels beneath houses and in civilian buildings in Gaza City. The evacuation order aims to separate terrorists from civilians.
This evacuation requirement also applies to all UN employees and those who have sought refuge in UN agencies, according to UN Secretary-General Stephane Dujarric. In response, the UN agency in the Middle East has relocated its operational headquarters in Gaza to the south to assist Palestinian refugees and facilitate humanitarian efforts.
Hamas has called on Gaza’s residents to ignore Israel’s recommendation for evacuation and has urged the UN to take action against what it deems forced displacement. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, in discussions with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in the Jordanian capital, has expressed his rejection of the forced displacement of Gaza’s population.
International Response: EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell noted that the evacuation of over one million people within 24 hours is an unrealistic demand. A representative from the Palestine Red Crescent Society, Nibal Farsah, shares a similar perspective.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has called on Israel to rescind the evacuation order, and the Palestinian Ministry of Health has informed the WHO that evacuating vulnerable hospital patients in northern Gaza is not feasible.
Humanitarian Crisis Looms: The number of Palestinians killed in Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip has risen to 1,799, with over 6,300 individuals injured. On the Israeli side, nearly 1,500 people have been affected by the conflict, and almost 4,000 have sustained injuries. The WHO has reported that Gaza’s healthcare system is in dire condition, and time is of the essence in preventing a humanitarian catastrophe.
The United Nations has called upon the international community to press for the opening of a humanitarian corridor to the Gaza Strip, which has been under an Israeli blockade.
Ongoing Conflict: The city of Sderot in Israel was targeted by Hamas militants and the Islamic Jihad movement, leading Israeli authorities to approve an evacuation plan for the settlement. Hamas militants fired rockets at southern Israel and the city of Beersheba, resulting in air raid sirens sounding in Ashkelon.
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, visiting Israel in a show of solidarity, and her delegation were forced to seek shelter during a rocket attack on Tel Aviv.
Hamas has declared yet another attack on Ben Gurion Airport. Additionally, a rocket fired from Gaza was intercepted in northern Israel.
The Israeli army reported that it struck 750 Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip during one night alone, including several dozen bases used by Hamas to launch drones, some of which were located on residential rooftops.
Hamas has claimed that 13 hostages, including foreigners, were killed in Israeli shelling. Furthermore, the Israeli army reported instances of rocket attacks originating from Lebanon, to which they responded with tank and artillery fire.
International Support for Israel: US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, during his visit to Israel, called for all those desiring lasting peace in the Middle East to condemn and isolate Hamas. At a joint press conference with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant, he stated that the United States could support both Israel and Ukraine simultaneously. Galant emphasized that the second plane with American military assistance had already been dispatched.
Austin also assured that had Washington known about an impending Hamas attack, it would have informed Israel. However, Galant countered by asserting that the idea of a Hamas invasion of Israel was formulated in Iran.
Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the European Commission, who also visited Israel, voiced Europe‘s solidarity with Tel Aviv and support for its right to self-defense.
Threat of Escalation: Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian suggested that other fronts of struggle against Israel might be opened. He stressed that Islamic states should not tolerate the crimes committed by Israel. Meanwhile, Ahmed Abdel Hadi, a Hamas representative in Lebanon, expressed gratitude to Iran for its support during the military confrontation with Israel.
In response to the conflict, Lebanese Army patrols were deployed in border areas with Israel to prevent demonstrations of solidarity with the Palestinian people.
The Israeli army has declared the city of Metula, located on the border with Lebanon, and its surroundings as forbidden military territory.
The situation remains highly volatile, with a grave risk of further escalation and a deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. International efforts are ongoing to de-escalate the situation and provide humanitarian assistance to those affected by the conflict.
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News agencies contributed to this report, edited and published by ORDO News editors.
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