Intense Bombing in Gaza Leaves Over 100 Dead
The Gaza Strip has witnessed one of the deadliest waves of Israeli bombing in recent weeks, with over 100 people killed and 170 injured in the last 24 hours. The Ministry of Health of the Hamas Government in the Strip reported that more than a third of the casualties occurred in two attacks on residential areas of the capital. Israeli military sources identified the targets as “Hamas military infrastructure sites,” while local media pointed to the targeted assassination of Raad Saad, a commander of Hamas's armed wing.
Rising Casualties and Destruction
The bombings have caused extensive destruction, with the latest figures representing the highest number of Gazans killed since June 7. In Al Shati, a refugee camp in the capital, fighter-bombers left 24 dead and significant damage to buildings. Emergency services are struggling to reach the dead and rescue survivors from the rubble. Another attack in the Al Tuffah neighborhood resulted in 18 deaths, adding to the overall toll.
Chaos and Humanitarian Crisis
UN Secretary General António Guterres has denounced the “chaos” and “total anarchy” in Gaza, highlighting the looting of humanitarian aid trucks and the extreme difficulty in distributing aid. The Israeli invasion has created a vicious circle around order and authority, affecting the distribution of humanitarian aid and everyday life. Guterres expressed regret over the looting and the challenges faced by the local administration in providing aid amidst the ongoing conflict.
- The double bombing in Gaza occurred a day after the Palestinian Red Crescent reported a massacre in Al Mawasi, an area defined by Israel as humanitarian. Preliminary investigations by the Israeli army indicate they did not attack there, but the incident is still under review.
- The conflict has also seen Palestinian militiamen attempting to stop Israeli armored vehicles from entering Rafah with grenade launchers and booby-trapped explosives. The situation in Gaza remains dire, with the Israeli army controlling most of the Strip but not responsible for protecting aid convoys or distributing humanitarian aid.
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has assured that no one will volunteer to take charge of Gaza until Israel “ends Hamas.” He envisions a “civil administration” supported by Arab countries and applying a deradicalization process to teach a different future to the people of Gaza.
