922 Palestinians martyred, including 260 children in Gaza bombings

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
11 Oct 2023 00:36
2 Shares

The Israeli occupation continues to brutally conduct airstrikes on the Strip.

Palestinians rescue a young girl from the rubble of a destroyed residential building following an Israeli airstrike on Gaza, October 10, 2023 (AP)

The number of Palestinian martyrs rose to 922, including at least 260 children and 230 women. Some 4,650 others were injured as a result of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian Health Ministry reported on Tuesday.

The Israeli aggression on Gaza continues for the fourth consecutive day with extreme brutality, targeting residential areas and cutting off water and electricity supplies, the Ministry said, indicating an attempt to commit genocide against over two million Palestinian citizens in Gaza.

The statement also mentioned that the Israeli occupation wiped out about 22 Palestinian families, comprising around 150 martyrs.

The statement further pointed out that the Israeli occupation targeted medical crews, leading to the martyrdom of 6 healthcare workers and the injury of 15 others with various injuries.

The Ministry of Health also revealed that the Israeli occupation's crimes have resulted in the martyrdom of 8 journalists and wounded 20 others.

Three journalists were martyred this morning as a result of an attack while they were covering events in western Gaza, namely, the martyrs are Said al-Taweel, Mohammad Sabeh, and Hisham al-Nawajha. Their martyrdom was caused by the Israeli occupation bombing a residential building housing journalists.

When medical teams examined the bodies of victims of the Israeli aggression, it was found that they suffered from tearing, amputations, complex wounds, different burns, and trauma to their internal organs, the Ministry said. This indicates that the Israeli occupation deliberately used excessive force to kill innocent children, women, and citizens, which requires international accountability for its crimes.

Regarding "Israel's" brutal targeting of residential areas in Gaza, the Ministry stated that the Israeli aggression has initiated the mass exodus of over 140,000 citizens who headed to shelters and hospital yards in harsh conditions that are unbearable for the elderly, women, children, and chronic patients.

The Ministry also warned of the danger of the spread of skin diseases, infectious diseases, and epidemics that do not know any bounds.

The health authorities in Gaza also warned of the dangers of the continued Israeli occupation's blockage of electricity and water supplies and how it impacts the well-being of the wounded, the sick, public health, and the environment.

They have strongly condemned "the ongoing Israeli violations against healthcare institutions, with 9 being struck, including the Ministry of Health building, the al-Ramal Clinic, the International Eye Center, and 15 ambulances, which puts the entire healthcare system, forcing medical teams to work in dangerous and unsafe conditions."

Despite the already difficult conditions that the region faces due to the Israeli blockade, the occupation has intensified its siege. Israeli Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz ordered that water supplies to Gaza be cut off by the Israeli occupation, in addition to electricity, fuel, and food.

The Health Ministry, moreover, stressed that the Israeli occupation began its aggression on Gaza while being fully aware that the healthcare system was exhausted due to the ongoing blockade, resulting in a severe shortage of 44% of medicines, 32% of medical consumables, and 60% of laboratory supplies and blood banks, in addition to the deterioration of power generators, fuel shortages, and the degradation of the ambulance and emergency response system.

The Ministry of Health called for the provision of medicines, medical supplies, fuel, and urgent hospital equipment, urging the relevant authorities to act immediately to open a humanitarian corridor for the entry of medical aid and medical delegations, as well as facilitate the movement of the wounded and the sick who cannot access treatment in Gaza.

Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported today that the joint medical team from the Tunisian Association for Crisis Management and the International Red Cross has arrived at al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza.

Meanwhile, al-Shifa Medical Hospital in Gaza City is crowded with the wounded due to the Israeli bombardment, including some entire families who are arriving collectively.

Doctors and nurses in the Gaza Strip are struggling with limited resources, while the Ministry of Health warns of a "catastrophic situation".

In addition, the spokesperson for the Palestinian Red Crescent Society in Gaza, Mohammad Abu Musabeh, announced that 5 hospitals have been targeted in the region, confirming that the healthcare system in the Gaza Strip is collapsing, and it is only operating for 4 hours per day.

Abu Musabeh explained that hospitals are suffering from shortages of supplies and medical equipment, as well as a severe lack of available operating rooms.

He also mentioned that the severity of injuries among Palestinians ranges from moderate to critical, adding that "there are many body parts recorded for missing individuals under the rubble, and they are difficult to reach due to the destruction of roads and passageways by the occupation."

Israeli warplanes launched three airstrikes on the Rafah crossing - Gaza's only exit point - earlier today, shortly after the occupation entity warned Egypt against attempting to deliver supplies to Gaza. The Egyptian side informed the crews of the crossing on the Palestinian side that the crossing must be evacuated immediately "because of Israeli threats to bomb" it.

However, the National Alliance also stressed that it will continue its efforts to send more humanitarian assistance of all forms to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza, highlighting its full support and solidarity with the Palestinian people.

As of Tuesday, the Israeli occupation army has committed over 15 massacres in Gaza. The Palestinian Health Ministry revealed in its latest report that the number of Palestinian martyrs in the Strip has surpassed 780, while the number of wounded exceeded 4,000.

President el-Sisi warned during a police academy graduation ceremony on Tuesday against marginalizing the Palestinian cause at the expense of other parties, referring to Egypt.

Malicious plot

Earlier today, security officials in Gaza and Egypt stated that Cairo is taking measures to prevent a mass exodus from the Gaza Strip to the Sinai Peninsula. This follows the Israeli shelling that halted the Rafah border crossing on Tuesday morning.

Egypt shares a 12 km border with the Gaza Strip and has played a key role in mediating a ceasefire in May 2021 following the battle of Seif al-Quds.

Two Egyptian security sources mentioned that the Israeli aggression on Gaza has raised Egypt's concerns. Cairo has urged "Israel" to provide a safe passage for civilians from Gaza instead of encouraging them to move toward Sinai.

Senior Egyptian security sources confirmed earlier that the Israeli occupation entity sought to propose and "recommend" corrupt "suggestions", noting that among them was the suggestion to "settle the people of the Gaza Strip in Sinai."

The security sources told AlQahera News broadcasting network that Egypt has and will continue to reject such proposals, emphasizing that there's a unanimous Palestinian consensus to "reject them".