‘A very dark chapter in human civilization’
A surgeon who volunteered in Gaza has denounced the international community for failing to stop Israel’s ongoing attack and complete blockade of the Strip.
Dr Mohammad Tahir said the “sequential dehumanization of the people of Gaza and Palestine in general” has allowed Israel to get away with killing tens of thousands of civilians.
“Nobody is hiding that they’re using aid as a weapon of war to further their political goals,” Tahir told Al Jazeera. “So it’s not an allegation, it’s a confession. There’s no debate here.”
More than 9,000 Palestinian children have been treated for malnutrition since the start of the year. Tahir said right now it is vulnerable children with chronic disease who are dying, but as Israel’s total blockade enters its third month more will perish.
“What world do we live in that allows this to happen? We’ve entered a very dark chapter in human civilization.”
‘Excruciating anxiety’ as Israel vows to expand Gaza fighting
The families of Israeli captives issued a statement saying they spent the Jewish Sabbath in “excruciating anxiety” after Israeli authorities announced their intention to expand military action in the Gaza Strip, calling up tens of thousands of reserve soldiers.
“Israel is on its way to sinking into the Gaza mud in the name of the illusion that it is possible to achieve any victory without returning our brothers and sisters from captivity,” the Bring Them Home Campaign said on X.
“Expanding the fighting will endanger the kidnapped, the living and the dead alike, will cost the lives of our soldiers, and will exact a heavy price from tens of thousands of reservists and their families.”
The group called on the government to “stop this mistake” and reach an agreement “that will return everyone”.
Antigovernment demonstrators rally outside the Israeli army headquarters in Tel Aviv
When called to war Israelis ‘will obey’
Thousands of people protesting in Israel against Netanyahu’s plan to expand the military assault on Gaza by calling up reserve soldiers is not influential enough, according to Israeli journalist Gideon Levy.
“[Netanyahu] has enough political support to continue because his coalition is very solid right now,” Levy told Al Jazeera, speaking from Tel Aviv.
“It’s the same old protest, which is very courageous and devoted, but is [not] … big enough to influence Netanyahu.”
He added, “There are enough Israelis who are ready to continue with this war. There is something basic of, in the nature of the Israelis that when they are called to war, they will always obey, or at least most of them will obey. It is because they believe in it.”
