Opinion: In Gaza, Israel aims to destroy civil order, but it is failing
As the head of Gaza’s ambulance services, Hani al-Jaafarawi, had one of the toughest jobs amid Israel’s genocidal war on the strip. Even before October 7, his staff were stretched thin, overworked and under constant threat. After the start of the war, al-Jaafarawi was hands-on in the medical response.
Hospitals, clinics and all health facilities were under extreme threat, and every day al-Jaafarawi’s life hung in the balance. But on June 23, the balance tipped away from him when Israeli forces attacked the Daraj Health Clinic in Gaza City, killing him and four other civilians. His only crime was his dedication to the civil defence of Gaza’s beleaguered population.
The murder of al-Jaafarawi was part of Israel’s systematic campaign to destroy civil services provision in Gaza. It has purposefully targeted and killed medical personnel, Palestinian Civil Defence workers, ambulance drivers, rescue teams, police forces, civil engineers, utility workers, aid convoy drivers and civil society leaders with the aim to create chaos and lawlessness in Gaza and to demoralise the population.
Deaths, injuries in Gaza’s al-Mawasi following Israeli bombing
Our colleagues at Al Jazeera Arabic are reporting that there are deaths and injuries after an Israeli bombardment targeting the tents of displaced Palestinians in the al-Mawasi area west of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.
The psychological warfare of Israel’s hovering drones
Israel has escalated the use of small drones, also known as quadcopters, to drop bombs on Gaza. First deployed in 2000, these drones have killed hundreds and injured thousands.
For Palestinians in Gaza, the constant presence of these drones is a form of psychological torture, severely impacting their mental health.
Four killed in Israeli attack on tents near Al-Aqsa Hospital
Our colleagues at Al Jazeera Arabic are reporting that an Israeli attack on tents housing displaced people near Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in central Gaza has killed at least four people.
The Wafa news agency said the victims included children and women.
We also have more updates on the Israeli attack on al-Mawasi, which the military had previously designated as a “humanitarian zone”. Wafa said at least one person was killed and 10 others wounded in the attack.
