Palestine Accuses Israel of Using White Phosphorus Bombs in Gaza
In a recent development, Palestine has accused Israel of employing white phosphorus bombs against civilians in the Karama neighborhood of the Gaza Strip. This accusation comes as Israel has pledged to escalate its response to an attack by Hamas through a ground offensive.
As of now, there has been no official response from Israel regarding these claims.
The Israeli military has reported that its fighter jets struck over 200 targets in a neighborhood of Gaza City, which they claim was used by Hamas to launch attacks. In response, Gaza’s health ministry has reported over 900 fatalities and 4,600 wounded in the densely populated enclave.
This latest escalation of violence follows a deadly Hamas attack in southern Israel, resulting in the deadliest Palestinian attack in Israel’s history. Israeli public broadcaster Kan reported a weekend death toll of 1,200, with the majority of victims being civilians.
In response to the conflict, over 260,000 people have been displaced in Gaza, and more than 1,000 housing units have been destroyed, making them uninhabitable.
These events have triggered a dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, worsened by Israel’s imposition of a “complete siege” on the already blockaded Gaza Strip, cutting off essential supplies like food, water, fuel, and electricity. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned that this siege will further deteriorate the already dire humanitarian situation in the region.
The situation has also led to heightened international tensions, with Western powers and many other nations reporting citizens killed, abducted, or missing. Hamas has taken around 150 captives since their ground incursion, including children, the elderly, and young people, who were taken during a music festival where approximately 270 people died.
As the conflict continues, fear and chaos have engulfed the 2.3 million Palestinians living in Gaza, facing thousands of Israeli munitions and a worsening humanitarian crisis.
The international community is closely watching this escalating crisis, with mounting concerns over the loss of life and the ongoing violence in the region.