The situation in Gaza’s Khan Younis has intensified, with Israeli airstrikes relentlessly pounding the area, forcing Palestinians to flee to increasingly crowded parts of the southern region, where safety remains elusive even in designated secure zones.
The recent escalation of violence in Gaza by Israel, following the breakdown of a temporary humanitarian truce, has drawn strong condemnation from Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor. The situation has resulted in an alarming increase in casualties, with reports indicating a rise from 300-350 deaths per day before the truce collapse to over 500 deaths daily since Israel resumed its attacks for the past six days.
The total number of Palestinian deaths in Gaza since October 7th, according to preliminary statistics, stands at 21,731, including a tragic toll of 8,697 children and 4,410 women. These figures also account for individuals presumed dead, trapped under rubble. The count of injured individuals has risen to 4,016.
Euro-Med Monitor highlighted Israel’s intensified targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, places of worship, bakeries, and even ambulances. Despite statements from the United States about efforts to mitigate harm to civilians after the truce collapsed, the reality on the ground indicates a starkly different situation, with an unprecedented number of civilian casualties.
Israel’s actions have been deemed by Euro-Med Monitor as tantamount to genocide in Gaza, flagrantly violating international humanitarian law and the rules of war that prioritize the safeguarding of civilians. The urgent call to the International Criminal Court to hold Israel accountable for these violations, particularly under the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, underscores the need for swift action to protect the people of Gaza from this brutal onslaught.
The United Nations World Food Programme expressed concern about alarming levels of hunger in northern Gaza, with the majority of households facing inadequate food consumption and a significant portion going without food for extended periods.
The conflict’s toll is devastating, with Israeli forces targeting refugee camps and reports of civilians, including the family of an Al Jazeera journalist, being killed in these attacks. The health sector is on the brink of collapse, with a high percentage of the wounded requiring urgent medical treatment abroad.
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society warned of a looming health and environmental catastrophe due to the deliberate targeting and mistreatment of the sick and wounded by Israeli forces. The situation demands immediate international attention and support to alleviate the suffering and prevent further loss of life.
