In a recent statement, the Israeli occupation entity has declared that 1.1 million individuals residing in northern Gaza must evacuate within the next 24 hours. This announcement has raised concerns of an imminent ground invasion in the war-torn region, which has been relentlessly bombarded since last Saturday.
Reacting to this development, the United Nations has expressed its apprehension, deeming the execution of such an order as “impossible” and highlighting the potential for dire humanitarian repercussions.
“The United Nations strongly urges the rescission of any such order, if confirmed, in order to prevent the transformation of an already tragic situation into a calamitous one,” stated the UN in a press release.
Meanwhile, the Interior Ministry in Gaza stressed its failure to respond to the occupation’s messages that focus on psychological warfare to strike the home front and undermine morale.
The Israeli occupation forces have continued their intensive barbaric bombardment on the strip, causing over 1,500 deaths and 6,612 injuries since the aggression began. Al-Qassam Brigades, however, stated that they control the ground battle’s course.
Local sources confirmed that the northwestern areas of the strip have been particularly targeted by the ongoing air raids. Additionally, the occupation also directed a series of raids on the northeast in Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun, where horrific massacres were committed against families.
Israeli occupation warplanes have targeted a residential building over its residents in Rafah City, southern Gaza Strip.#GazaUnderAttack #StandWithGaza pic.twitter.com/LUwCcPnb7j
— PALESTINE ONLINE 🇵🇸 (@OnlinePalEng) October 12, 2023
Local sources confirmed that the northwestern areas of the strip have been particularly targeted by the ongoing air raids. Additionally, the occupation also directed a series of raids on the northeast in Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun, where horrific massacres were committed against families.
An elderly Palestinian woman has been rescued from under the rubble of her house targeted by Israeli occupation fighter jets in Gaza. pic.twitter.com/CsL1PXN8yV
— PALESTINE ONLINE 🇵🇸 (@OnlinePalEng) October 12, 2023
13 captives killed in Israeli barbaric shelling on Gaza
Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, announced that 13 prisoners of war, including foreigners, were killed in the Israeli heavy shelling on the North and Gaza governorates during the past 24 hours.
In its statement, Al-Qassam Brigades pointed out that 6 of them were killed in the North governorate in two separate locations, and 7 in the Gaza governorate in 3 different locations that were targeted by the barbaric Israeli shelling.
Gaza Faces Dire Humanitarian Crisis
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has reported a significant increase in the number of forcibly displaced people in Gaza, reaching a staggering 423,378 individuals. This alarming rise of 84,444 people is a direct consequence of the ongoing and unprecedented Israeli aggression, according to OCHA’s statement released on Friday.
“Stay strong, father, don’t be scared.”
A moment between a Palestinian boy and his father on Thursday, as they both lay on hospital beds, suffering from serious injuries as a result of Israel’s bombardment of Gaza, occupied Palestine pic.twitter.com/ATax4mAq8E
— Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) October 12, 2023
The dire situation in Gaza has resulted in a severe shortage of drinking water for the majority of residents. OCHA has revealed that access to clean water from service providers or domestic pipelines has been completely cut off. In response to this crisis, UNICEF has reported that some individuals have resorted to drinking seawater, highlighting the desperate measures being taken due to the lack of clean water.
The impact of the conflict on healthcare facilities in Gaza is equally devastating. OCHA has emphasized that medical facilities are overwhelmed, with limited supplies and hindered access due to the ongoing hostilities and damaged roads. Additionally, nearly 5,500 pregnant women in Gaza are struggling to access essential health services, as healthcare workers, hospitals, and clinics come under attack.
The Shihab family in Jabalia North Gaza hosted people displaced from Beit Hanoun in their
house. The house was bombed without warning. 44 people were killed inside, and 6 only survived yet severely injured. Half of the victims are under 18 years old. pic.twitter.com/pGmGcxmiqD— PALESTINE SUNBIRD 🇵🇸 (@SBPal_Eng) October 12, 2023
Ashraf al-Qudra, spokesperson for the Palestinian Health Ministry, has warned that Gaza is on the brink of a complete shutdown of essential services. The health sector is collapsing, leaving patients and wounded individuals in dire conditions. Hospitals are overcrowded, with patients lying on the floor due to the lack of available beds in intensive care units. The situation is further exacerbated by the increasing number of patients awaiting urgent surgeries.
Media coverage: “The Palestinian Nursing Syndicate: We mourn our colleagues who have been murdered by the ongoing Israeli aggression on #Gaza:
– Doaa Jadallah
– Sumaya Tamraz
– Mohammad Raafat Jumaa
– Osama Ayed Abu Safiya
– Saber Al-Namnam
– Mohammad Hammad
– Mohammad Al-Baz
-… pic.twitter.com/6PJoa4pfPq— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) October 13, 2023
In a shocking revelation, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has confirmed that the Israeli occupation forces employed white phosphorus during their attacks on Gaza and Lebanon on October 10 and 11. HRW has expressed grave concerns about the use of this highly dangerous substance, highlighting the serious and long-term risks it poses to civilians.
Source: Israeli and Palestinian media (translated and edited by Al-Manar English Website)