Horrors, war crimes uncovered in Khan Younis after Israeli withdrawal

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen
30 Jul 2024 18:21
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Israeli occupation forces commit a number of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Khan Younis, as authorities recover the bodies of at least 300 martyrs.

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Palestinians forcibly displaced by Israeli occupation forces from eastern Khan Younis move toward "safe areas" in the Gaza Strip, in the southern Gaza Strip, Palestine, on July 22, 2024. (AP)

Authorities in the Gaza Strip uncovered yet another set of horrific Israeli crimes committed in Khan Younis, following the withdrawal of occupation forces from the city in the southern part of the besieged territory.

The Civil Defense in the Gaza Strip reported that the number of martyrs' bodies recovered from the eastern part of the city "exceeded expectations", with an initial tally showing approximately 300 Palestinians killed by Israeli occupation forces.

Moreover, authorities reported that over the past eight days, emergency workers have recovered nearly 300 bodies, most of which were decomposing. Search operations for missing persons are still ongoing.

Emergency workers in Khan Younis face a challenging endeavor, recovering bodies from beneath the rubble amid nearly total destruction, with infrastructure damage reported at 90%.

It is worth noting that the Israeli occupation forces renewed the invasion of Khan Younis starting July 22, 2024, which lasted for eight days, amid fierce confrontations by the Palestinian Resistance.

Massive destruction in Khan Younis

The Government Office in the Gaza Strip revealed that within those eight days, Israeli occupation forces destroyed dozens of residential buildings and homes, killing and injuring hundreds, in clear war crimes.

In detail, the governmental office said the occupation destroyed 31 residential buildings atop their residents, while 320 houses and buildings were damaged. Israeli occupation forces also targeted essential sectors in eastern Khan Younis, the office added.

Moreover, authorities revealed that the Israeli occupation blocked emergency workers on multiple occasions from rescuing wounded Palestinians in Khan Younis, blatantly violating international law, specifically the duty to preserve life and the right to life.

The Israeli occupation also committed crimes against humanity, specifically related to the forcible transfers of populations and threatening the lives of hundreds of thousands of civilians.

Gaza authorities held the Israeli occupation and the United States administration fully responsible for the continuous massacres against civilians, demanding that international courts and the international community try Israeli war criminals and urgently stop the genocide of the Palestinian people.

Ministry of Health reports on Tuesday's toll

On Tuesday, the Ministry of Health in Gaza announced the latest toll of martyrs and injuries in the entirety of the Gaza Strip, revealing that the Israeli occupation committed three massacres by attacking family homes.

At least 37 Palestinians were martyred and 73 were injured in Israeli attacks in the 24 hours prior to the release of the Ministry's statement.

This raises the total number of Palestinians killed to 39,400, with another 90,996 wounded since October 7, 2023.

Moreover, 12 Palestinians were recently martyred in the al-Nuseirat refugee camp in the Gaza Strip, after Israeli occupation forces shelled a large group of civilians in the camp.

Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported that 9 martyrs arrived at the Al-Awda Hospital on Tuesday, following an Israeli strike on a residential area in the al-Bureij refugee camp.

UNRWA reports near 1,000 hepatitis cases a week

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) reported receiving weekly notifications of 800 to 1,000 cases of hepatitis via its medical centers in the Gaza Strip.

According to the agency, the total number of reported hepatitis cases in the region since the start of the war has reached approximately 40,000.

Ghadeh Jadba, the head of the UNRWA health program in Gaza, stated that displaced families are living in harsh and inhumane conditions and in overcrowded camps and shelters. They lack access to clean water, hygiene supplies, proper waste management, and sanitation. She emphasized that this crisis makes it extremely challenging for the UNRWA health program to meet patients' needs.