The Israeli military announced on Saturday that it is continuing its operations in the vicinity of the Al-Shifa Hospital in the Gaza Strip. According to a statement from the Israeli military, its forces, with the assistance of the Shin Bet, have killed about 170 terrorists in the hospital area and arrested over 800 suspects. Numerous weapons and terrorist infrastructure were also found. The statement added that “air force planes struck around 35 terrorist targets across Gaza in the last day, including command centers, military sites, and the infrastructure of terrorist organizations in the sector.”
The Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip have been ongoing since October 7, 2023, when Hamas, which controls the sector, initiated “Al-Aqsa Flood” operation, launching thousands of rockets from Gaza into Israel and its forces infiltrated Israeli towns near the Strip, killing about 1,200 Israelis, mostly settlers, and capturing about 250 others.
In response, Israel officially declared war on the Gaza Strip, starting with destructive bombings followed by ground operations within the sector.
The Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip has so far resulted in about 32,000 deaths and more than 74,000 injuries, mostly among children and women, according to those who reached hospitals, while more than 7,000 are still missing under the rubble due to the ongoing bombardment throughout the sector.
The recent actions of the Israeli military in Gaza have raised serious concerns regarding potential violations of international humanitarian law. Amnesty International has documented instances where Israeli attacks resulted in significant civilian casualties, including the destruction of entire families without warning, raising allegations of war crimes . The United Nations has also highlighted Israel’s efforts to permanently change the population composition of Gaza through widespread and systematic attacks on civilians and infrastructure, particularly in the south of the enclave .
Human Rights Watch has reported devastating effects on people with disabilities due to the Israeli bombardment and blockade, noting the lack of warning and the inability of those with disabilities to evacuate safely. Amnesty International further found that U.S.-made munitions were used in deadly Israeli air strikes on civilian homes, underlining the severity of the attacks on the civilian population.
The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has pointed out clear violations of international humanitarian law by Israel, citing the large-scale displacement and the dire humanitarian situation resulting from the blockade and ongoing military operations. Moreover, concerns have been raised about Israel’s compliance with the laws of war, especially following statements by Israeli officials and the imposition of severe blockades, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
