Hamas proclaimed targeting Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport with rockets today, eliciting a denial from an airport spokesperson. The military wing of Hamas, Al-Qassam Brigades, claimed responsibility, alleging retaliation for attacks on civilians.
Despite the group’s assertion, operations at the airport continue unabated, and Israeli authorities refute the purported attack, as per Reuters. Concurrently, warning sirens resounded in Tel Aviv, signaling potential airborne threats, but no disruption at the airport is confirmed.
The veracity of Hamas’s claims remains unverified amidst the ongoing conflict.
The United Nations affirmed on Tuesday that the full blockade of the Gaza Strip, declared by Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant on Monday, is in violation of international humanitarian law.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, stated in a press release, “The imposition of a blockade that endangers the lives of civilians by depriving them of essential goods for survival is prohibited under international humanitarian law.”
The Director of Communications at the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees, Juliette Touma, previously stated that any tightening of the blockade on Gaza would make the already dire situation in the region “much worse, especially for women and children.”
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant announced the complete blockade on the Gaza Strip on Monday, while Israeli Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz ordered an immediate cut-off of water supply to the region.
The blockade of Gaza has been a contentious issue for many years, with concerns raised by various international organizations about its impact on the civilian population. It restricts the flow of goods, services, and people in and out of the Gaza Strip, leading to severe hardships for the residents.
