‘Genocide is unfolding on the ground’
About an hour ago, rescue workers recovered the bodies of five Palestinians killed in southern Rafah city in an Israeli raid. There is also artillery fire in Nuseirat refugee camp. But the concentration of Israeli army attacks remains in northern Gaza, particularly Jabalia. Witnesses say the camp is still under heavy bombardment for a 17th day.
Civilians are trapped in their houses and there’s a mass blackout. Food, water, and medicine have run out. Genocide is unfolding on the ground. Palestinians in central Gaza are afraid they’ll meet the same fate as those in the besieged north. They’re scared of the expansion of the conflict there.
Two killed in Israeli attack on northern Gaza City
At least two Palestinians have been killed and others wounded in an Israeli attack northwest of Gaza City. Local residents told the Wafa news agency that Israeli artillery shelled homes in the as-Saftawi area, which killed two people. Successive explosions occurred in Gaza City and the northern areas of the enclave.
In the west of Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, Israeli forces blew up several residential buildings. Several areas northwest of the Nuseirat camp in the central Gaza Strip were also shelled by Israeli artillery.
Gaza City likely next in Israel’s ‘ethnic cleansing’ campaign
Hassan Barari, a professor of Middle Eastern politics at Qatar University, says the Israeli military siege and mass expulsion of residents in northern Gaza is “a message” to Palestinians elsewhere in the besieged Strip.
He said after Jabalia, Beit Lahiya, and Beit Hanoon are cleared in the north, it is likely Gaza City will be next for “ethnic cleansing”. “It all comes down to one objective, and that is kicking Palestinians off of their land,” Barari told Al Jazeera.
He said Netanyahu sees the war on Gaza as a “golden opportunity to settle the account with the Palestinians – he wants northern Gaza”.
Palestinians flee areas in northern Gaza during Israeli assault
Israel plans Gaza land grab as part of ‘messianic ideology’
Israel’s intensifying attacks on northern Gaza reflect the desire of its far-right government to seize Palestinian land historically viewed as being possessed by Jews, an analyst says.
“The Israelis are being driven by their objective of expansion. They want to take northern Gaza as a price to punish the Palestinians and teach next generations a lesson, that once you turn against the Israelis there will be a huge price,” Hassan Barari, a professor of Middle Eastern politics at Qatar University, told Al Jazeera.
“The main component of the Israeli government follows messianic ideology. It doesn’t care about the international community. It doesn’t even care about Israeli society. They want to expand because they feel this is their divine duty to settle the land. So this is the opportunity for them to implement their plan and get as much land as possible.”
‘Resettle Gaza’ rally: Ben-Gvir ‘encourages voluntary transfer’
Speaking at a “Preparing to Resettle Gaza” rally, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called for Palestinians to “voluntarily” leave the Gaza Strip.
“We will encourage voluntary transfer of all Gazan citizens. We will offer them the opportunity to move to other countries because that land belongs to us,” Ben-Gvir said. Hardline Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has made similar calls in the past.
Israel withdrew its military and settlers from Gaza in 2005 after a 38-year occupation, and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said it does not intend to maintain a permanent presence again, but that Israel would maintain security control for an indefinite period.
There has been little clarity, however, about Israel’s longer-term intentions, and countries including the United States have said Gaza should be governed by Palestinians.
