Israel-Hamas war, Gaza genocide

[SvennoJ]

‘A truly unspeakable humanitarian catastrophe’

Families started to flee from the neighbourhoods that were marked as “red” in terms of the classification of the Israeli military. They have been using their own vehicles in order to move their house items and stuff towards the central areas of Rafah and al-Mawasi.

Some families headed to the middle areas of Gaza, which we have visited today – we are talking about a truly unspeakable humanitarian catastrophe. The situation there is indescribable as there’s no place that seems to be empty.

Residents are living there in unprecedented congestion in the streets of Nuseirat, even in Deir el-Balah town, where the vast majority of Gaza’s population is heading to. The situation on the ground for those families is completely terrifying because they have no other place that is designated as a safe zone to get to.

Meanwhile, the bombardment continues amid more fleeing movements among the residents in the eastern part of Rafah.

Red Crescent says thousands fleeing eastern Rafah

The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) says thousands of people have been seen evacuating areas to the east of Rafah after the Israeli order ahead of the looming military attack.

“This coincides with the escalating Israeli airstrikes on areas east of the city of Rafah,” it said in a post on X that was accompanied by a video showing people fleeing with their belongings.

“PRCS warns of a humanitarian catastrophe for civilians in Rafah,” the group added.

Separately, PRCS spokesman Osama al-Kahlout told AFP: “The numbers of citizens moving from the eastern areas of Rafah towards the west are large, especially after the intensification of the bombing, there are thousands of citizens leaving their homes.”

Belgium working on more sanctions against Israel, deputy PM says

The comments came from Petra De Sutter after she met with Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki, adding that the two had “discussed how Belgium can help to end the atrocities” in Gaza.

“We will continue to push for recognition of the State of Palestine, and full UN membership,” she added in a social media post.

UN experts condemn Israel’s ‘sexual assault and violence’ in Gaza

Seven UN special rapporteurs have issued a statement condemning “unacceptable” violence by the Israeli army against women and children during the war on Gaza, particularly sexual violence and enforced disappearances.

“We are appalled that women are being targeted by Israel with such vicious, indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks, seemingly sparing no means to destroy their lives and deny them their fundamental human rights,” they said

The statement pointed to “continued reports of sexual assault and violence against women and girls, including against those detained by Israeli occupation forces”. It also cited UN reports saying women and girls in Gaza were victims of enforced disappearances.

Special rapporteurs are independent experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council. They do not speak on behalf of the UN.

Referring to Hamas, Israel’s mission in Geneva alleged the experts had “once again chosen to ignore Hamas’s systematic militarisation of health facilities and civilian infrastructures in the Gaza Strip, voluntarily and actively using the population as human shields”. 

“In issuing such a statement, the signatories try to create an alternative narrative, parroting the agenda of a terrorist organisation that is actively destroying the lives of the Palestinian population in Gaza,” the Israeli mission said.

Family says al-Shifa doctor was tortured to death in Israeli prison

Adnan al-Bursh was a doctor at Gaza’s al-Shifa Hospital who was taken into Israeli custody during a raid. His family tell Al Jazeera they believe he was tortured to death.

US Republican senators threaten ICC over Israel arrest warrants: Report

The threat came in a letter sent by 12 Republican senators from the United States, including former Senate leader Mitch McConnell and Texas’s Ted Cruz. The letter admonished International Criminal Court prosecutor Karim Khan for reports that the body was investigating Israel for war crimes committed in Gaza.

“Target Israel and we will target you,” the senators said in the letter, obtained by the news website Zeteo. “If you move forward with the measures indicated in the report, we will move to end all American support for the ICC, sanction your employers and associates, and bar you and your families from the United States. You have been warned.”

The ICC has demanded an end to threats against it last week. Media reports have indicated that the ICC might issue arrest warrants for Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The should issue arrest warrants for those senators as well. Impeding justice and issuing threats are crimes.