In 145 days only in Gaza: Martyrs near 29,954, injuries at 70,325

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
28 Feb 2024 16:04
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Israeli occupation forces commit 8 massacres in Gaza in 24 hours only, killing 76 Palestinians and injuring 110 others.

Palestinian children sitting on the rubble of a residential building destroyed by an Israeli airstrike (AFP via Getty Images)

The Ministry of Health in Gaza reported, on Wednesday, that the Israeli occupation committed 8 crimes against families in the Gaza Strip, killing 76 and injuring 110 others.

This brings the total number of Palestinians killed in the Israeli aggression on Gaza since October 7 to 29,954, in addition to 70,325 injuries, the Ministry added.

It is worth noting that thousands remain trapped beneath the rubble, presumed dead, with Israeli forces impeding ambulances and medics' movement, preventing them from reaching the bodies and injuries.

UN sounds alarm: 'Israel' systematically blocking aid access to Gaza

Earlier today, the United Nations reported that Israeli forces are systematically impeding access to individuals in need in Gaza, creating challenges in delivering aid to the besieged Palestinian territory.

Jens Laerke, the spokesperson for the UN humanitarian agency OCHA, stated during a press briefing in Geneva on Tuesday that conducting medical evacuations and aid deliveries in northern Gaza has become unfeasible. The spokesperson added that humanitarian operations in the southern part of Gaza are also facing escalating difficulties.

“Aid convoys have come under fire and are systematically denied access to people in need, (meaning) humanitarian workers are subject to unacceptable and preventable risk,” Laerke said.

Humanitarian agencies providing aid to Gaza reported that even convoys that have received prior clearance from Israeli authorities have been consistently obstructed or targeted with gunfire.

“Despite prior coordination for all staff members and vehicles with the Israeli side, the Israeli forces blocked the WHO-led convoy for many hours the moment it left the hospital,” the spokesperson said.

Laerke highlighted an occurrence on Sunday, during which a convoy intended to evacuate 24 patients from Amal Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis was impeded for seven hours and paramedics were detained.

The joint initiative by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) to organize the convoy faced obstacles. The convoy had to abandon 31 patients at Amal Hospital, which has ceased all operations after being targeted with 40 Israeli attacks in the past month alone.

“The Israeli military forced patients and staff out of ambulances and stripped all paramedics of their clothes,” Laerke said.

“Three PRCS paramedics were subsequently detained, although their details had been shared with the Israeli forces in advance,” he added. “This is not an isolated incident.”

Laerke expressed the UN's commitment to consistently remind Israeli forces of their obligation, at the very least, to ensure the "safe, smooth, and rapid passage" when notified about aid missions.

Qatar condemns the deliberate starvation of the Palestinian people

Qatar has condemned "Israel" for enabling the intentional starvation of the Palestinian people, as stated by Majed Al Ansari, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson, during a regular weekly briefing. Al Ansari urged the international community to increase pressure on "Israel" and expressed dismay that the delivery of aid remains a persistent issue.

In a statement released following the briefing, Al Ansari said, "Any aid provided to Gaza Strip is a very small part of what the residents of the strip need. There are two and a half million people living in complete absence of health and emergency services. More than one million people live in tents in the south of the Strip."

Al Ansari further stated that the provision of aid should be unrestricted, a principle consistently emphasized by the state of Qatar. He highlighted the challenges in delivering aid despite the establishment of an air bridge through which 80 planes of aid have been dispatched.

"So far, we have not seen real pressure from the international community to allow full and unconditional entry of aid. The State of Qatar, in cooperation with its partners, seeks to stop the aggression before the holy month of Ramadan. It is painful that the entry of humanitarian aid is one of the issues on the table," he added.