The International Court of Justice (ICJ) recently ordered Israel to cease its military operations in Rafah, a city in southern Gaza. However, Israel has disregarded this directive and has escalated its attacks. In the last 24 hours, 46 Palestinians have been killed, including women and children, with hundreds more injured, according to Middle East Monitor.
The Israeli ground and air forces launched a significant offensive on Rafah on Saturday, leading to widespread casualties and damage. Additionally, other areas such as Deir al-Balah, Gaza City, and the Jabalia refugee camp have also come under heavy fire.
The Ministry of Health in Gaza reports that the death toll has surpassed 35,000 since the conflict began, with at least 80,000 injured and hundreds of thousands missing. The United Nations has described the situation as an "unspeakable tragedy" and has called for an end to the violence.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is worsening, with severe shortages of food and water. Residents have access to only three percent of their daily water needs, putting children and the elderly at extreme risk. Hospitals are struggling with a lack of doctors, medical supplies, electricity, and fuel, exacerbating the already dire situation.
The conflict was reignited on October 7, 2023, when the Hamas government in Gaza launched a major military operation against Israel. In response, Israel commenced intensive airstrikes and ground assaults on Gaza.
The United Nations has urged an end to the ongoing violence, highlighting that 85 percent of Gaza's population is now internally displaced due to acute shortages of essential supplies. Furthermore, 70 percent of Gaza's infrastructure has been destroyed or severely damaged, and the UN warns that 2.2 million Gazans are at grave risk of famine if immediate relief does not arrive. The international community is called upon to hold accountable those responsible and ensure prompt humanitarian aid to prevent further catastrophe.
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