SITUATION IN Gaza
by Siri Al-Qudwa
Translated and edited by Ibrahim Ebeid
Saturday 14 October 2023.
For the sixth day in a row, the Israeli occupation forces continue to commit massacres in the Gaza Strip. Several neighborhoods suffered major destruction after being bombed randomly, which led to the martyrdom of hundreds of citizens, the majority of whom were children and women thinking that they were safe in their homes.
The occupation forces used phosphorus bombs and high-explosive bombs which are internationally banned and prohibited, this abominable act is a new war crime added to the Israeli criminal record. This hateful act led to major destruction of citizens’ homes and infrastructure.
Warplanes bombed the Al-Karama neighborhood and also the Al-Qaizan neighborhood in Khan Yunis, the Tal Al-Hawa, the Al-Daraj, and other neighborhoods, with hundreds of tons of explosives.
The direct bombardment of citizens’ homes led to the displacement of more than 263,934 citizens from their homes, as a result of the continuous bombing by air, land, and sea on the Gaza Strip.
The bombing operations destroyed more than 752 residential buildings, with 2,835 units completely demolished, and 32,000 units severely damaged, including 1,791 non-residential units.
The crimes of the Israeli occupation against the people in the Gaza Strip, committed by the Israeli war machine using internationally banned weapons, including phosphorous, cluster bombs, and others. These crimes affect everything in the Gaza Strip and have so far led to the martyrdom of more than 2,003 citizens and more than 6,000 wounded, and they are increasing rapidly, hundreds of thousands of citizens have been displaced from their homes, and huge numbers of homes, buildings, institutions, and facilities were razed to the ground and demolished, either partially or completely. The Rimal neighborhood, located in the heart of Gaza, was completely destroyed.
The crimes of murder, destruction, and displacement mean that Israel is committing crimes of genocide against our people. Palestinian citizens are under a frenzied starvation campaign, and cutting off basic supplies and needs (electricity, water, medicine, fuel, etc.) for defenseless civilian citizens is the ugliest form of collective punishment.
All murders and attacks committed by the occupation forces and armed colonialist militias against citizens, their land, homes, holy sites, property, and vehicles in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are considered war crimes that cannot be tolerated. Prompt action is needed to stop the genocide scheme.
Israel is exploiting the support of certain countries under the pretext of self-defense to commit the most heinous crimes and implement pre-prepared plans to liquidate the Palestinian cause and replace the culture and logic of peace with that of war and arrogance of force. Israel is exploiting this war to strengthen its denial of the existence of the Palestinian people and their just and legitimate national rights, foremost of which is their right to self-determination. International parties have not done anything yet regarding the crimes documented by cameras, screens, and the media rising to the level of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Some international parties are drowning in miserable double standards and favoritism in their dealings with international conflicts and crises, specifically the American position, which is biased toward international law, international legitimacy and its decisions, and what remains of the credibility of the United Nations.
There is no doubt that the continuous escalation in bombing, destruction, and killing is an Israeli disregard for the positions of some countries that direct their demands to Israel regarding the necessity of adhering to international law, and we must continue to call on the international community to take urgent action to stop this insane Israeli aggression immediately and to ensure the entry of basic needs to our people in the Gaza Strip in a proper manner. Activate the international protection system for the Palestinian people living under occupation.
Editor-in-Chief of the Palestinian newspaper Al-Sabah
