Despite a ceasefire agreement that took effect in January, the situation in Gaza remains dire. According to the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor, Israel has killed at least 137 Palestinians since the ceasefire began, with an alarming average of 7 Palestinians killed every two days. Additionally, 605 others have been injured, highlighting the continued Ceasefire Violations and Human Rights Concerns.
The loss of 137 lives and the injury of 605 others represent not just numbers but profound human suffering. Families have been torn apart, children orphaned, and communities left in mourning. The psychological and emotional scars of such violence are long-lasting, further exacerbating the trauma experienced by the people of Gaza.
In a recent statement, Salama Marouf, the head of Gaza’s Government Media Office, accused Israel of deliberately escalating its attacks on Palestinians over the past 10 days, in direct violation of the ceasefire agreement.
He highlighted that the latest incident involved an Israeli airstrike targeting a group of civilians in central Gaza, which resulted in the deaths of five individuals, including two brothers. Marouf emphasized that this attack has brought the total number of Palestinian fatalities since the ceasefire began to 137.
Francesca Albanese, UN special rapporteur on Palestine, says that “It’s genocide. It’s so obvious. What Israel has done to the Palestinians in Gaza has never been more shockingly, abhorrent and visible. The more people study and research, and connect the dots, the more they realize.”.
Palestinians in Gaza are enduring extreme hardships, including severe thirst, disease, and starvation, following Israel’s decision to abruptly cut off all electricity to the region two days ago. Compounding the crisis, the Israeli military has blocked the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza for the past nine days.
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has strongly condemned the Israeli-imposed siege in Gaza, which is depriving Palestinians of basic services and critical supplies. “Israeli authorities are yet again normalizing the use of aid as a negotiation tool,” said Myriam Laaroussi, MSF emergency coordinator. “Humanitarian aid should never be used as a bargaining chip in war. The blockade on all supplies is inevitably hurting hundreds of thousands of people and is having deadly consequences” he added.
Amnesty International, the world’s largest human rights organization, has condemned Israel’s decision to cut electricity to Gaza’s main desalination plant a week after it halted entry of humanitarian aid, describing Israel’s actions violates international humanitarian law and as “further evidence of Israel’s genocide against Palestinians.” However, Western media has framed the move as a strategic tactic to pressure Hamas, rather than a humanitarian crisis.
Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.
Md Irshad Ayub is Founding English editor at millat times and Delhi-based freelance journalist.
