Escalation in Gaza: 48 killed in one hour of airstrikes
Gaza has been yet again pummeled by Israeli airstrikes, resulting in at least 81 deaths within a single 24-hour period. Health officials report that these attacks have devastated shelters and schools, leaving a territory already in crisis on the edge of collapse.
1:04 PM EDT, July 17, 2024
On Tuesday night, Israel conducted three airstrikes within a single hour, claiming 48 lives in a concentrated assault. Health officials in Gaza report that these attacks are part of a broader campaign that has killed over 38,700 people and wounded 89,364 since October 7. The bombardment has turned shelters into death traps, with UN-run schools bearing the brunt of the attacks. Eight schools have been hit in the past ten days alone, adding to the 70 percent of UNRWA schools already damaged since the conflict began. 539 people seeking refuge in these schools have been killed.
Civilians in the crossfire
Among the recent victims were 17 individuals, including children, killed in an airstrike near a tent area housing displaced families in Khan Younis. Another 23 were killed and 73 injured in a school bombing in the Nuseirat refugee camp. These figures underscore the severe impact on civilians caught in the crossfire. Hospitals are overwhelmed, with medical staff working around the clock under dire conditions. The Health Ministry in Gaza has issued urgent appeals for international medical teams to be allowed entry to provide essential aid.
Survivors of the attacks recount scenes of horror and chaos. Belkis Wille, an associate director at Human Rights Watch (HRW), stated, "The killing of civilians and taking of hostages were all central aims of the planned attack and not actions that occurred as an afterthought or as a plan gone awry." HRW's investigation into the October 7 attacks revealed coordinated efforts by five Palestinian armed groups, led by Hamas' Qassam Brigades, to carry out these atrocities. The report detailed instances of killing, torturing, taking hostages, looting, and committing sexual violence, labelling these acts as war crimes.
Calls for ceasefire and international law
The international community has been vocal in its demands for a ceasefire. HRW has called on Hamas to immediately release the approximately 120 hostages and the bodies of those still held in Gaza. They emphasized the necessity for all parties to adhere to international humanitarian law. In a rebuttal to HRW's findings, Hamas claimed their fighters were instructed not to target civilians, a statement HRW found "false," asserting that the intentional killing and hostage-taking of civilians were meticulously planned and coordinated.
The toll of war
The human toll of this conflict is staggering. Over 38,700 people have been killed in Gaza, with more casualties being reported daily. In Israel, the death toll from the October 7 Hamas-led attacks stands at 1,139, with dozens still held captive in Gaza. The suffering extends beyond the immediate violence, with countless families displaced and living in constant fear.
The world has responded with a mixture of condemnation and calls for action. The United States has criticized the high civilian toll, urging Israel to minimize harm to non-combatants. France 24 reports that Israeli forces have continued their operations, citing the need to neutralize militant threats. Human Rights Watch has consistently accused both sides of violating international law, highlighting instances such as an Israeli strike in central Gaza that killed 106 Palestinians, which HRW labelled a war crime due to the absence of a clear military target.
As the conflict rages on, the quest for peace remains elusive. Both sides have suffered immense losses, and the civilian population continues to bear the brunt of the violence. Efforts to broker a ceasefire and bring about a lasting resolution must be intensified to prevent further loss of life and alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Source: Al-Jazeera, Associated Press, France 24
