Rights group alleges four prisoners killed during release by Israeli troops
The Palestinian Prisoner’s Society accused Israeli forces of killing the four men as they were being released at the Karem Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing from Israel into Gaza.
The rights group described the incident as “a field execution”, adding the four Palestinians had helped guard humanitarian aid entering the besieged coastal enclave. “The body of one of the men was recovered yesterday and the rest this morning, and pictures taken show that their hands were bound, and there was evidence of torture on their bodies,” the organisation said.
Israeli forces have detained more than 9,700 Palestinians since October 7, the prisoners’ group said, with 3,800 of them being held without charge or trial in “administrative detention“.
Israeli jets strike ‘Hamas sites’ in school in Gaza City
The Israeli army says its warplanes hit a Hamas weapons-manufacturing site in a school in Gaza City in the northern Gaza Strip.
The military said in a statement on X that fighter jets also struck a compound within the school where Hamas fighters were gathered. Before launching the attacks, the army carried out “many steps” to mitigate harm to civilians, it said.
Hamas denies using civilian infrastructure for military purposes.
‘Indescribable’: Attacks escalate throughout Gaza in recent hours
The body of a woman killed in an Israeli strike just arrived at Al-Aqsa Hospital. She was killed in artillery shelling of the Bureij refugee camp.
Israeli forces targeted the Holy Family School – again – earlier today. At least four Palestinians were killed, including women and children, with dozens of others injured. People were evacuating when the attack occurred. Yesterday, a school run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) was targeted and 16 Palestinians died.
In the past couple of hours, the Israelis hit different residential areas in Beit Hanoon, Beit Lahiya and also Rafah. It’s very intense and escalating in the Gaza Strip right now.
The situation at Al-Aqsa Hospital is indescribable. There is no space to even walk once inside because there are so many wounded patients on the floor. There’s no medicine since Israel’s Rafah incursion began in early May and the flow of supplies stopped. There’s only one generator operating the hospital because of the lack of fuel.
‘Raises questions about what Israel doesn’t want international journalists to see’
The Foreign Press Association, which represents international media working in Israel and Palestine, says it’s shocked and disappointed that Israel continues to ban journalists nine months into the war.
“Never before has Israel enforced such a long and strict information blackout. It has repeatedly rejected our appeals for access, fought us in court to uphold this draconian ban, and offered just a handful of highly controlled ’embed’ opportunities for a small number of our members,” it said in a statement.
The association said local journalists in Gaza continue to face unprecedented threats and movement restrictions “as they courageously try to cover this story”.
“It raises questions about what Israel doesn’t want international journalists to see,” the group said, reiterating its call for Israeli authorities to allow unfettered and independent access to Gaza.
Israeli army orders evacuation of western parts of Gaza City
The Israeli military is calling on residents and displaced Palestinians in several areas of Gaza City to evacuate westwards during ongoing fighting in the Shujayea neighbourhood, in the eastern part of the city.
The Israeli army’s Arabic spokesperson Avichay Adraee listed Tuffah, Daraj and the Old City among the neighbourhoods to be evacuated. Israeli troops launched a ground invasion of Gaza City in late June, forcing tens of thousands of Palestinians to hastily flee during air and artillery strikes.
#عاجل ‼️الى كل السكان والنازحين المتواجدين في مناطق التفاح، البلدة القديمة، والدرج في بلوكات: 604-606, 608, 609
⭕️من أجل أمنكم - عليكم الاخلاء بشكل فوري الى المآوي المعروفة في غرب مدينة غزة pic.twitter.com/s0VBnyyNud
— افيخاي ادرعي (@AvichayAdraee) July 7, 2024
Translation: To all residents and displaced people located in the areas of Al-Tuffah, the Old City, and Al-Daraj in blocks: 604-606, 608, 609. For your security, you must evacuate immediately to known shelters in the west of Gaza City.
