Turning to the Israel-Gaza war that is raging out of control. Israel unleashed a wave of airstrikes across the Gaza Strip early today. These came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pushed back against U.S. pressure to wind down the offensive against Gaza’s militant Hamas rulers and vowed to continue the fight.
Explosions overnight hit Gaza City hard, as orange flares lit up the night sky, with airstrikes also reported in the central town of Deir al-Balah and the Southern town of Khan Younis. Residents living in the coastal enclave woke at dawn and continued to search for lives in the midst of rubble from at least five collapsed apartment buildings. The Israeli military also bombarded a commercial thoroughfare in the enclave.
The Israeli airstrikes continued to destroy more apartment buildings in the city. Rocket shrapnel from the airstrikes smashed into a two-story building in the southern town, Khan Younis, injuring the 11 residents who were sleeping in the building when the airstrikes hit, sending the residents wounded and hospitalised. Cost aside, the damage is staggering. The buildings were literally rendered completely devastated.
At least 227 Palestinians have been killed, including 64 children and 38 women, since the recent war broke out, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. On the Israeli side, at least 130 people have been killed.
Israel and Gaza locked horns when clashes broke out during the holy month of Ramadan in Jerusalem, causing a stampede. Hamas then fired missiles and rockets to Jerusalem, and Israel gave Hamas a taste of its own medicine by sending a barrage of rockets to the Gaza Strip in return, in an attempt to devastate every nook and cranny of Gaza, should it have the audacity to completely destroy Israel’s sacred homeland.
Egyptian negotiators have also been working alongside some other countries to halt the fighting. Egypt earlier sent a ceasefire offer to Israel, and is currently waiting for its response, according to a diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
According to the World Health Organisation, at least 18 hospitals and clinics have been destroyed in the Gaza Strip since the war broke out, with half of all essential drug supplies now stretched thin.
After visiting military headquarters in Israel, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday he appreciated “the support of the American President”, but that Israel would push ahead to return “calm and security” to its citizens. Prepared to dig in for a long fight, Netanyahu vowed Israel would never stop the fight until its aim is met.
Comentários