Palestinians evacuate Gaza City amidst devastating Israeli military operations
In the embattled Gaza Strip, a UN-declared famine is gripping the city of Gaza, adding to the already devastated Palestinian territory. This crisis has sparked outrage among the international community, with over 350,000 people fleeing south according to the Israeli military.
The offensive, backed by the United States, was initiated by Israel with the aim of destroying the militant group Hamas. The war was ignited by Hamas's October 2023 attack on southern Israel, resulting in the deaths of 1,219 people, most of them civilians.
The Israeli military has been relentless in its retaliatory campaign, striking over 150 targets in Gaza City since launching its ground assault on Tuesday. This aggressive action has led to the death of at least 65,062 people, according to figures from the territory's health ministry, a number that the United Nations considers reliable. The Gaza civil defence agency reported that Israeli fire had killed at least 62 people across the territory on Wednesday alone.
Amidst the chaos, residents express their desperation. One resident stated, "Death is cheaper and more merciful." Another eyewitness, Mohammed al-Danf, pleaded, "Enough, we want to be free. We want to live, we don't want to die, who told you we want to die? Tell Netanyahu: we don't want to die!"
Despite the danger, many Gazans have vowed to stay in their homes, citing the high cost and unavailability of transportation and shelter. The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry (COI) found that "genocide is occurring in Gaza and is continuing to occur", according to commission chief Navi Pillay.
Qatar has called for an end to the Israeli assault on Gaza City, labelling it "an extension of its genocidal war against the Palestinian people." The Israeli Foreign Minister, Gideon Saar, has warned the EU against taking action against Israel, after the bloc's executive proposed curbing trade ties and sanctioning far-right ministers over the Gaza war.
The United Nations estimates that about one million people are living in Gaza City and its surroundings. In an effort to facilitate humanitarian aid and improve the movement of people and goods, the Israeli government opened the temporary transport corridor "Salah al-Din Street" on August 16th.
Pope Leo XVI expressed his solidarity with the Palestinian people in Gaza, stating, "I express my deep solidarity with the Palestinian people in Gaza who continue to live in fear and survive in unacceptable conditions, being forcibly displaced once again from their lands."
The situation in Gaza City remains dire, with the international community urging for a swift resolution to the conflict and a focus on alleviating the humanitarian crisis.
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