THREAD: gaza strip

ISRAELI STRIKES Escalate: Gaza Families Desperate Amid Chaos

09 July 2024 — Heavy Israeli bombardment rocked Gaza City on Tuesday, forcing thousands of Palestinians to flee and causing medical facilities to shut down. Israel’s new ground assault aims to combat Hamas militants regrouping in previously cleared areas.

Large parts of Gaza City have been flattened after nine months of fighting, with several hundred thousand Palestinians still in the north. “The fighting has been intense,” said Hakeem Abdel-Bar, who fled to relatives’ homes as Israeli forces advanced.

Families called for ambulances for their wounded or trapped relatives, but first responders couldn’t reach them due to ongoing operations, according to Palestinian Red Crescent spokesperson Nebal Farsakh. “It’s a dangerous zone,” she stated.

Following an evacuation call from Israel on Monday, staff at Al-Ahli and Patients Friends Association Hospital rushed to move patients and shut down. All three Red Crescent medical facilities in Gaza City have closed as well.

ISRAELI STRIKES in Gaza Spark Outrage, Kill 37

29 May 2024 — Israeli shelling and airstrikes killed at least 37 people near Rafah, Gaza Strip, mostly in tents. This follows a deadly fire days earlier in a camp for displaced Palestinians. Witnesses and emergency workers confirmed the casualties.

The tent camp inferno has sparked international outrage, even from Israel’s allies. Spain, Norway, and Ireland recognized a Palestinian state on Tuesday. The Israeli military suggested the blaze might have been caused by secondary explosions from militants’ weapons.

Israel’s initial probe into the fire is ongoing. Military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari stated that Israeli munitions were too small to cause such a fire. Prime Minister Netanyahu called it a "tragic mishap.

The strikes have forced over 1 million people to flee Rafah since May 6th, according to the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees. Most of these families are now scattered across makeshift camps and war-torn areas in Gaza.;

ISRAELI AIRSTRIKE Devastates Gaza: 22 Killed in Humanitarian Zone

26 May 2024 — An Israeli airstrike on Sunday killed 22 people in Rafah, Gaza Strip. The attack hit tents for displaced people, causing heavy destruction. The Israeli army claimed it was unaware of any activity in the area.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society warned the death toll could rise as search and rescue efforts continued. They stated that Israel had designated the location as a “humanitarian area.” Footage from the scene showed significant damage and chaos.

This strike occurred two days after the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to end its military offensive in Rafah. Israel’s defense minister, Yoav Gallant, was briefed on operations in Rafah on Sunday.

Earlier that day, Hamas fired rockets from Gaza reaching Tel Aviv for the first time in months. There were no immediate reports of casualties from this rocket attack, which Hamas’ military wing claimed responsibility for.

ISRAEL DEFIES US Warnings, Ramps Up Military Strike in Gaza’s Rafah

12 May 2024 — Israel has escalated its military actions in Rafah, Gaza, despite U.S. cautions. The Israeli military ordered tens of thousands to leave the area immediately. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari confirmed that the operations targeted and eliminated numerous militants. This aggressive stance persists even amid international concerns about rising civilian casualties and disruptions to humanitarian aid efforts.

Global protests have ignited as Israel alleges Hamas militants are consolidating in northern Gaza following seven months of ongoing conflict. The United Nations warns that intensifying military activities in Rafah might severely impact humanitarian initiatives and increase civilian fatalities. The closure of the Rafah border crossing complicates aid delivery, heightening regional tensions further.

President Joe Biden has explicitly denied supplying offensive weaponry for operations in Rafah, pointing to credible evidence that Israel might be violating international laws designed to protect civilians during conflict situations. On the other hand, Israeli authorities maintain they adhere strictly to these laws and have implemented advanced warning systems to reduce civilian casualties before launching operations

The crisis deepens as over 1.4 million Palestinians find themselves displaced within Rafah’s confines due to recent evacuations moving populations into areas already heavily affected by conflict. Aid organizations are overwhelmed trying to manage under these challenging circumstances.

ISRAEL’S Military Strikes in Gaza Spark US Alarm: Humanitarian Crisis Looms

27 April 2024 — The U.S. has voiced serious concerns over Israel’s military operations in Gaza, particularly in the city of Rafah. This area is crucial as it serves as a center for humanitarian aid and provides shelter to over a million displaced individuals. The U.S. is worried that increasing military activities could cut off vital aid and deepen the humanitarian crisis.

Public and private communications have been made by the U.S. with Israel, focusing on the protection of civilians and the facilitation of humanitarian assistance. Sullivan, actively engaged in these discussions, has emphasized the need for effective plans to ensure civilian safety and access to essential resources such as food, housing, and medical care.

Sullivan stressed that American decisions will be guided by national interests and values amid this conflict. He confirmed that these principles would consistently influence U.S actions, demonstrating a commitment to both American standards and international humanitarian norms during ongoing tensions in Gaza.

TRAGEDY Strikes Gaza: CHILDREN Among the Dead in Latest Israeli Airstrike

21 April 2024 — An Israeli airstrike in Rafah, Gaza Strip, tragically ended the lives of nine people, including six children. This devastating event is part of a seven-month-long offensive by Israel against Hamas. The strike specifically targeted a house in Rafah, a densely populated refuge for many of Gaza’s residents.

Abdel-Fattah Sobhi Radwan and his family were among those who perished. Heartbroken relatives gathered at al-Najjar hospital to mourn their unimaginable loss. Ahmed Barhoum, grieving the deaths of his wife and daughter, voiced his despair over the erosion of human values amid ongoing conflict.

Despite global pleas for moderation from allies including the United States, Israel has hinted at an impending ground assault in Rafah. This area is considered a key base for Hamas militants still active in the region. Prior to this incident, some locals had left their homes following preliminary warnings issued by the Israeli military.

GAZA NIGHTMARE: Mizrahi Unveils Horrifying Hamas Atrocities

20 December 2023 — Mizrahi, a U.S. citizen with Israeli roots, recently spoke at a crowded synagogue in Malibu, California. She recounted the harrowing experience her family faced during the October 7 Hamas attack on Kfar Aza, Israel. Her cousin and his daughter lost their lives while his wife and remaining children were abducted.

The Los Angeles Times confirmed that Mizrahi’s cousin Nadav Goldstein Almog and his daughter Yam were among the many victims in their kibbutz during the assault. Goldstein Almog’s wife Chen and their three children were among over 200 Israelis kidnapped and transported to Gaza.

A doctor who examined several freed hostages last month corroborated Mizrahi’s account to CBS News. He revealed that Hamas employed meticulously orchestrated psychological torture against the captives, including claims that Israel had ceased to exist. The family heard from survivors that they had been relocated to Hamas tunnels towards the end of their captivity where they encountered mistreated female hostages.

Maya and Dvir Rosenfeld managed to survive for 24 hours in their home’s safe room with their infant son during the Kfar Aza onslaught. They believe an open door led Hamas operatives to assume their home had already been targeted, thus escaping capture.

GAZA CITY Under Siege: Israeli Forces Advance Amid Rising Tensions and Humanitarian Crisis

09 November 2023 — Reports emerged on Wednesday that Israeli ground forces are closing in on Gaza City from various directions. This maneuver has sparked a widespread civilian evacuation, with essential supplies like food and water becoming increasingly scarce. The urban strife between Israel and Hamas is escalating rapidly.

The Israeli military remains reticent about their specific troop movements but promises a decisive response to Hamas’ deadly assault inside Israel on October 7th. Locals report that Israeli forces have penetrated the inner neighborhoods of Gaza City amidst intense bombardment.

Violent confrontations have erupted near Shifa, the largest hospital in the territory, which has become a critical point in this conflict. The Israeli military asserts that Hamas’ primary command center operates from within this hospital complex, accusing high-ranking leaders of using the facility as a protective shield.

Both Hamas and hospital personnel vehemently deny these allegations, suggesting they serve as an excuse for an attack on the medical facility. For Palestinians in Gaza, Shifa symbolizes civilian hardship during this war. The hospital is inundated with injured individuals while struggling with limited electricity and medical supplies amidst hosting tens of thousands of displaced people.

ISRAELI Raid on GAZA and US Strikes on Iran-Linked Sites in Syria: The Tense Standoff Escalates

27 October 2023 — In a sudden move, Israeli forces carried out a brief but intense raid on northern Gaza. The military operation, which took place overnight, was aimed at Hamas fighters and their anti-tank weaponry. This action is seen as groundwork for a possible ground invasion, marking the third such Israeli raid since the conflict erupted.

Meanwhile, responding to drone and missile assaults on U.S. bases and personnel in the region, the U.S. military executed airstrikes early Friday morning. These strikes targeted two locations in eastern Syria associated with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), according to Pentagon reports.

Arab leaders unitedly called for an immediate cease-fire on Thursday. Their plea aims to alleviate civilian suffering by allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza where residents are grappling with severe shortages of food, water, medicine while UN workers struggle with dwindling fuel supplies for relief missions.

The Health Ministry of Hamas-controlled Gaza reported that over 7,000 Palestinians have lost their lives in the ongoing conflict — an unverified figure thus far. On Israel’s end, there have been more than 1,400 casualties