At least 1,900 martyrs, 7,696 injured in Gaza: Health Ministry

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
13 Oct 2023 23:47

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) stated that Hamas's operation on "Israel" cannot serve as grounds for justification of the extensive destruction inflicted on Gaza.

A Palestinian baby wounded in Israeli strikes is treated at Al-Najar hospital in Rafah, Gaza Strip, Friday, Oct. 13, 2023 (AP Photo/Hatem Ali)

The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza has called for an immediate cessation of the actions by the occupying forces, which have resulted in 1,900 fatalities, including 614 children and 370 women, along with injuries to 7,696 individuals, including 2,000 children and 1,400 women.

The ministry expressed that the occupation had deceived the population, compelling them to evacuate, only to further intensify their actions and cause the death and injury of 200 citizens, including both martyrs and the wounded.

"We demand an immediate halt to the crimes of the occupation, which claimed the lives of 1,900 martyrs, including 614 children and 370 women, and injured 7,696 citizens with various injuries, including 2,000 children and 1,400 women," a statement issued by the ministry read, adding that "the occupation deceived the citizens and forced them to flee, then doubled its crimes by targeting them, and claimed the lives of 200 citizens, including martyrs and wounded."

Hamas operation not grounds for mass destruction

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) stated on Friday that what they described as " Hamas's attack" on "Israel" cannot serve as justification for the extensive destruction inflicted on Gaza.

The ICRC also emphasized that all parties involved must adhere to their legal obligations when conducting warfare.

"But those [Israeli attacks on Gaza] cannot justify the limitless destruction of Gaza. The parties must not neglect their legal obligations regarding the methods and means used to wage war," the ICRC's statement read.

The statement further asserts that Israeli orders for Gaza residents to evacuate their residences, while simultaneously restricting access to essential services like food, water, and electricity, contravene international humanitarian law.

"When military powers order people to leave their homes, all possible measures must be taken to ensure the population has access to basic necessities like food and water and that members of the same family are not separated," the ICRC said.

The horrific attacks in Israel cannot justify the limitless destruction of Gaza.
The evacuation orders, coupled with the complete siege, are not compatible with IHL.

We are committed to providing aid to Gaza and we reiterate our readiness to visit the hostages there. Read…
— ICRC (@ICRC) October 13, 2023

On Tuesday, the occupation's Security Minister Yoav Gallant has ordered to cut off electricity, water, and food from Gaza in the aftermath of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, while also referring to the Palestinians in Gaza as "human animals", who he will have to deal with "accordingly".

This has resulted in exacerbated pressure on hospitals in Gaza which are facing a shortage of fuel, risking the shutdown of essential services and endangering the lives of the wounded and sick.

On Thursday, Gaza’s Health Ministry announced that hospitals in the Gaza Strip are at full capacity and that patients “are lying on the floor” due to the severity of the occupation's aggression, further warning that health services in Gaza are now at a critical stage.

Earlier today, Gaza's Ministry of Health announced that 1,799 people have been martyred, including 533 children, as a direct result of "Israel's" targeting of civilians in the Gaza Strip.

Health authorities also said that 9 martyrs and 130 injuries were reported on Friday in the occupied West Bank as a result of ongoing confrontations between Palestinians from one side and illegal settlers and occupation forces from another.

Later in the day, sources reported that Reuter's photographer, Issam Abdallah, had been martyred by an Israeli strike in the town of Aalma al-Chaeb, southern Lebanon.

Two other Reuters Journalists were injured, their names are Thaer al-Sudani and Maher Nazeh.