Intensification of Israeli military operations coincides with a blockade to enter humanitarian aid in the region for almost three months
At least 52 people died on Monday (26) in Israeli bombings in, according to the Palestinian Civil Defense, including 33 who were in a school that was used as a shelter for displaced people, where the Israeli army said there was “terrorists.” The intensification of Israeli military operations coincides with a blockade of the entry of humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip for almost three months. The Gaza Civil Defense, a territory governed by Hamas, said at least 33 people died and dozens were injured in Israeli bombing against the Fami Aljerjawi school in the city of Gaza. The Israeli army stated that there were “high profile terrorists” at the bombarded school and “took several measures to mitigate the risk of damaging the civilian population.”
Farah Naser, a natural dislocated Beit Hanun, said he woke up with bombing and discovered with horror the “smell of death, burnt, sulfur and blood.” At Al Ahli Hospital, a group of women cried for the deaths of relatives. Gaza Civil Defense spokesman Mahmud Bassal reported that another bombing in Jabaliya, in the south of the track, hit the house of a family and that rescuers recovered 19 corpses. The Israeli army also reported that it detected three projectiles released from Gaza on Monday, including one that was intercepted, on a journey in which Israel celebrates Jerusalem Day, which celebrates the “reunification” of the city after the eastern part of 1967.
Israel resumed the offensive in Gaza in mid -March after breaking a truce of almost two months. On May 17, the army intensified its operations, with the declared objective of annihilating the Palestinian Islamist Movement Hamas and freeing the hostages that remain in captivity. The war in Gaza began after the Hamas attack in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which caused the deaths of 1,218 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP balance based on official data. Of the 251 people kidnapped that day, 57 remain detained in Gaza. From the group, 34 are considered dead, according to the Israeli army. More than 53,900 Palestinians, mostly civilians, died in the Israeli military offensive, according to Gaza Ministry of Health data that the UN considers reliable.
New Tree Proposal
A Palestinian source told AFP on Monday that a new proposal for ceasefire in Gaza presented by the mediators includes the release of 10 hostages, a 70-day truce and the partial withdrawal of Israel from Palestinian territory. The Israeli offensive adds to the block that aggravated the scarcity of food, water, fuels and medicines. The situation generates the concern of a scenario of hunger in Palestinian territory. Humanitarian organizations claim that the little help Israel has allowed to enter the last days is far below the needs of the population. The United Nations Agriculture and Food Organization (FAO) said that less than 5% of agricultural lands in Gaza are cultivable or accessible, which further aggravates the risk of hunger.
Humanitarian catastrophe caused a growing wave of international indignation and Israel’s allied countries expressed criticism. Germany’s head of the Government, Friedrich Merz, said on Monday that “it does not understand what is the goal of the army” and threatened to stop supporting the government of Benjamin Netanyahu. United States President Donald Trump, Israel’s main ally, said on Sunday he hopes to “end this situation as soon as possible.” However, Jake Wood, the director of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), supported by the United States and created to distribute help on the track, announced his resignation on Sunday.
Wood said he cannot fulfill his mission “strictly respecting the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence.” The Geneva -based organization, created a few months ago, announced on May 14 that it intended to distribute almost 300 million meals in the first 90 days of operation. The board of directors lamented the decision of the director of GHF and said the aid will begin to be distributed. The UN and several NGOs refused to participate in the distribution of help of this foundation, accused of working with Israel.
Posted by Luisa Cardoso
*With information from AFP
