Israel’s widening air and ground offensive in southern Gaza has displaced tens of thousands more Palestinians and worsened the territory’s dire humanitarian conditions, with the fighting preventing distribution of food, water and medicine outside a tiny sliver of southern Gaza and new military evacuation orders squeezing people into ever-smaller areas of the south.
Quick Read
Escalating Offensive in Southern Gaza: Israel’s expanding air and ground operations in southern Gaza have exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, displacing thousands and severely hindering the distribution of essentials like food, water, and medicine.
Intense Displacement: Over 80% of Gaza’s population, accounting for 1.87 million people, have been displaced since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war, initiated by Hamas’ attack on southern Israel on October 7.
Telecommunications Shutdown: The U.N. reports complete disruption of telecom services in Gaza due to damage to main fiber routes.
Israeli Military Advances: Israeli forces have entered Khan Younis, Gaza’s second-largest city, as part of their effort to eliminate Hamas rulers from the territory. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasizes the need for long-term security control over Gaza post-war.
Casualty Toll: The Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza states over 16,200 deaths and more than 42,000 injuries in the region, with a significant proportion being women and children.
U.N. Calls for Immediate Cease-Fire: The U.N. human rights chief urgently demands a cease-fire in Gaza, highlighting the worsening situation for civilians and the necessity of addressing allegations of sexual violence during Hamas’ October attacks.
Investigation Requests Unanswered: Despite repeated requests, Israeli authorities have not responded to the U.N.’s call for investigations into the attacks on Israelis.
International Concerns: The U.N. expresses alarm over dehumanizing and inciteful statements from both Israeli and Hamas leaders.
Cyprus’ Role in Aid Distribution: Cyprus announces that several countries, including the U.K., are storing humanitarian aid on the island to facilitate shipment to Gaza. A U.K.-offered shallow-draft ship will be used to offload aid near Gaza’s shores.
The Associated Press has the story:
Dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza grow worse as Israel widens its offensive
Newslooks- GAZA (AP)
Israel’s widening air and ground offensive in southern Gaza has displaced tens of thousands more Palestinians and worsened the territory’s dire humanitarian conditions, with the fighting preventing distribution of food, water and medicine outside a tiny sliver of southern Gaza and new military evacuation orders squeezing people into ever-smaller areas of the south.
The United Nations said 1.87 million people — more than 80% of Gaza’s population — have been driven from their homes since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, triggered by the deadly Oct. 7 Hamas assault on southern Israel. The U.N. also says that all telecom services have been shut down due to cuts in the main fiber routes.
On Tuesday, Israel’s military entered Khan Younis, Gaza’s second-largest city, in its pursuit to wipe out the territory’s Hamas rulers. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the military must retain open-ended security control over the Gaza Strip long after the war ends. Around 1,200 people have died on the Israeli side, mainly civilians killed during Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack.
The Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said the death toll in the territory has surpassed 16,200, with more than 42,000 wounded. The ministry does not differentiate between civilian and combatant deaths, but said 70% of the dead were women and children.
UN HUMAN RIGHTS CHIEF URGES IMMEDIATE CEASE-FIRE
The U.N. human rights chief is demanding that the international community immediately push “with one voice” for a cease-fire in Gaza as the plight of civilians deepens.
“Palestinians in Gaza are living in utter, deepening horror,” U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said at a news conference in Geneva. “As an immediate step, I call for an urgent cessation of hostilities and the release of all hostages.”
He added: “The international community needs to insist with one voice on a cease-fire, immediately, on human rights and humanitarian grounds.”
Türk said that, as more information emerges on allegations of sexual violence by members of Hamas and other Palestinian groups in their attack on Israel in October, “it is painfully clear that these attacks need to be fully investigated to ensure justice for the victims.”
While investigators are trying to determine the scope of the sexual assaults, Israel’s government is accusing the international community, particularly the U.N., of ignoring the pain of Israeli victims.
Türk said he asked Israeli authorities in October for permission to deploy a team to investigate the attacks on Israelis, and has repeated the request, but hasn’t received a response. “We need to ensure that justice is served, because that’s what we owe the victims,” he said.
Türk also expressed “grave concern regarding dehumanizing and inciteful statements made by current and former high-level Israeli officials, as well as Hamas figures,” without citing specific comments or people.
“History has shown us where this kind of language can lead,” he said. “This is not just unacceptable, but a competent court may view such statements, in the circumstances in which they were made, as incitement to atrocity crimes.”
COUNTRIES OFFER TO STORE AID IN CYPRUS FOR SHIPMENT TO GAZA
NICOSIA, Cyprus — Cyprus says a number of countries have offered to store humanitarian assistance in the east Mediterranean island nation as part of a plan to ship the aid to Gaza via a maritime corridor.
The countries include the U.K., which last week sent humanitarian aid that is being stored at Larnaca port, from where ships will depart for Gaza once conditions on the ground in the territory allow for it, government spokesperson Constantinos Letymbiotis said Wednesday.
He said the U.K. has also offered a shallow-draft ship capable of approaching Gaza’s shoreline, where it would be able to offload the aid without the need for port facilities required by large vessels.
Earlier this week, Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides said he held talks with his Egyptian counterpart, Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, and Jordan’s King Abdullah II, who reaffirmed their support for the aid corridor. Israel has also backed the plan but has given no indication yet when the aid could begin to flow.
Last month, Christodoulides told The Associated Press that the proposed maritime corridor of about 230 miles (370 kilometers) is the “only one currently being discussed on an international level” as a feasible way to significantly supplement the trickle of aid getting into the enclave through Egypt’s Rafah border checkpoint.
Currently:
— Widespread sexual and gender-based crimes were committed during Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, a rights group says. Biden calls on the world to condemn Hamas for the reported brutalities.
— Generation after generation, Israeli prison marks a rite of passage for Palestinian boys.
— In a rare action against Israel, the U.S. says extremist West Bank settlers will be barred from America.
— The presidents of Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania and MIT defend actions in combatting antisemitism on campus.
— The U.N.’s food agency stops deliveries to millions in Yemen areas controlled by Houthi rebels.
— Find more of AP’s coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war.
