As the conflict in Gaza escalates, Israel faces increasing international pressure, notably from the United States, to better protect Palestinian civilians. The focus intensifies on the rising death toll and heightened fighting around hospitals.
The death toll among Palestinians has surpassed 11,000 in a five-week Israeli bombardment retaliating against Hamas for a deadly attack on southern Israel. Calls for Israeli restraint have been growing exponentially amid mounting casualties and humanitarian concerns.
US urges action on Gaza civilian plight
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in a significant statement during his visit to India, expressed deep concern over civilian suffering in Gaza. While welcoming Israel’s humanitarian pauses, he emphasized the need for further action to protect civilians, balancing support for Israel’s anti-terrorism campaign.
Even French President Emmanuel Macron urged Israel to cease bombing Gaza, condemning Hamas’s actions but emphasizing the need for a halt in the airstrikes.
Israeli response to criticism
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended Israel, stating that world leaders should condemn Hamas rather than Israel. He warned of potential global consequences if Hamas’s actions in Gaza are not condemned universally.
Saudi Arabia hosts Summit in response to Gaza crisis
Saudi Arabia announces an extraordinary joint Islamic-Arab summit in Riyadh to address the escalating situation in the Palestinian Gaza Strip. The summit aims to unify efforts and formulate a collective position in response to the exceptional circumstances.
Hospitals in Gaza Under Fire
Overnight clashes near Gaza City’s hospitals have intensified, with reports of explosions and gunfire. Al Shifa Hospital, Gaza’s largest, is allegedly targeted, prompting concerns about the safety of patients, doctors, and displaced individuals seeking shelter.
Controversy has erupted over allegations of Israel launching a “war on Gaza City hospitals.” Israeli military claims misfired projectiles launched by Palestinian militants hit Al Shifa, emphasizing the challenges of distinguishing military targets from civilian infrastructure.
WHO Director-General Addresses UN Security Council
World Health Organisation Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has informed the UN Security Council that a child is killed every 10 minutes in Gaza. He stressed on the urgency of the situation, declaring that nowhere and no one is safe in the current circumstances.
As the conflict persists, Israeli tanks stay positioned around hospitals, and the Palestinian Red Cross reports shootings at Al-Quds hospital. The situation remains complex, with conflicting claims and a pressing need for international attention to address humanitarian concerns.
(With Reuters Inputs)