Israeli army keeps attacking al-Mawasi despite ‘safe’ designation: UN
The UN human rights office has reiterated that there is “no safe in Gaza” amid Israel’s offensive, highlighting the Israeli military’s air raids and shelling on al-Mawasi, a so-called “humanitarian zone”.
Meanwhile, the area has limited or no infrastructure “to support the masses of civilians who have been already displaced there and where there is little access to shelter” or basic life-saving aid, it added.
“Confusing mass evacuation orders issued by a party that is concurrently increasing the intensity of its attacks on the areas from which evacuation is ordered and through which people must move place civilians in more danger and may increase the harm to civilians,” the office continued, saying this raised “serious concerns” in regards to Israel’s compliance with its “obligation to take all feasible precautions to avoid, and in any event to minimize, incidental loss of civilian life and injury to civilians”.
Despite Al Mawasi, Khan Younis being declared a “humanitarian zone” by the Israeli military, it continues to conduct airstrikes and shelling into the area. As the UN Human Rights Office has stated previously, there is no safe place in Gaza. #Gaza #HumanRights
Read the statement…
— UN Human Rights Palestine (@OHCHR_Palestine) July 23, 2024
UNICEF vehicles attacked with gunfire in central Gaza
Adele Khodr, regional director for Middle East and North Africa for the UN children’s agency, says “two clearly marked vehicles have been hit with live ammunition while waiting at a designated holding point near the Wadi Gaza checkpoint”.
“They were en route to reunite five children, including a baby, with their father,” she posted on X. “One vehicle was struck by three bullets, but fortunately no injuries occurred. The team managed to proceed with the mission and safely deliver the children.”
Khodr noted “humanitarian workers are protected under International Humanitarian Law and must not be targeted”.
Israeli military advances deeper into war-torn Khan Younis
Israeli tanks pushed into the Khan Younis suburb of Bani Suheila and several eastern districts of the second-largest city were heavily bombed for a second day.
Tens of thousands of Palestinians fled southern areas of Gaza following the Israeli army’s evacuation order for parts of Khan Younis, including the al-Mawasi “humanitarian zone”.
The Israeli military said dozens of fighters were killed in Khan Younis by its tanks and warplanes or in close-quarters combat. Weapon caches and tunnels had been destroyed, it added.
Palestinians arrive at Nasser Hospital on Monday after Israel’s latest attack on Khan Younis
UN to send team to Gaza to test for polio
The WHO and UNICEF will send a joint team to Gaza on Thursday to begin collecting samples, with clear recommendations expected within the coming days on how to address the threat, including a potential mass vaccination campaign, AFP reports.
Polio is a crippling and potentially fatal viral disease that mainly affects children under the age of 5.
UN agencies said last week that poliovirus had been detected in samples collected from sewage in Deir el-Balah and Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip.
No samples have been taken from humans yet, so it remains unclear if anyone in the Palestinian territory has actually been infected.
