On Saturday, an airstrike in southern Gaza resulted in the tragic deaths of three Palestinians, with Israel’s military stating that the target was a Hamas commander. This incident occurred less than 24 hours after the International Court of Justice issued a binding order to Israel, urging it to take all necessary measures to prevent casualties, devastation, and acts of genocide in the besieged region.
The Israeli military will now face increased scrutiny, as the top United Nations court has requested a compliance report from Israel within a month. While the court’s decision did not explicitly call for a ceasefire, it did reprimand Israel for its conduct during the nearly four-month-long conflict with Gaza’s ruling party, Hamas.
In the wake of allegations that some Gaza staff members were involved in an October 7th Hamas attack that triggered the war, several countries, including Britain, Italy, and Finland, joined the United States, Australia, and Canada in suspending funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA). UNRWA is the primary organization providing humanitarian aid to Gaza’s population during the ongoing crisis.
The Israel-Hamas conflict has led to the loss of over 26,000 Palestinian lives, according to local health authorities, causing extensive destruction in Gaza and displacing nearly 85% of its 2.3 million residents. The attack by Hamas in southern Israel resulted in approximately 1,200 casualties, mostly civilians, including around 250 hostages.
In the past day alone, at least 174 Palestinians lost their lives, as reported by Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry does not differentiate between combatants and civilians in its figures, but it has noted that roughly two-thirds of the victims are women and children.
Bilal al-Siksik, who lost his wife and two children in an early morning airstrike, expressed his frustration that the UN court’s ruling did not bring an end to the conflict. He emphasized the ongoing challenges in dealing with Israel’s actions, stating that even a powerful country like the United States seemed unable to influence the situation.
The region of Rafah and its surroundings, home to over a million people, has been densely packed due to Israel’s evacuation orders during the conflict. However, even designated evacuation areas have come under repeated airstrikes, as Israel continues to target militants.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) issued urgent warnings regarding Nasser Hospital, the largest healthcare facility in Khan Younis. They highlighted that the remaining staff at the hospital are struggling with dwindling supplies amid intense fighting nearby. Shocking footage from WHO showed patients being treated on blood-smeared floors while anxious loved ones looked on. Dr. Muhammad Harara expressed the desperate need for painkillers and the severe shortage of essential supplies.
Residents of Gaza expressed disappointment that the UN court did not immediately call for an end to the conflict. The case, brought forward by South Africa, accused Israel of committing genocide against the Palestinian people—a charge vehemently denied by Israel. The interim orders did not address the genocide allegations, and a final ruling is expected to take years.
In addition to instructing Israel to prevent harm to Palestinian civilians and take measures to prevent genocide, the court also urgently called for the delivery of basic aid to Gaza.
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