The Israeli military has continued to strike all areas of the Gaza Strip, despite the fact that nearly half a million individuals with no place to go have evacuated Rafah in southern Gaza in anticipation of Israel’s long-anticipated offensive.
The Israeli airstrikes that targeted a building in the Nueseirat refugee camp in central Gaza resulted in the fatalities of numerous individuals, including children and women, and the necessity of extraction of survivors from the debris.
In an adjacent attack, the Israeli Defense Forces targeted a “Hamas war center” at a United Nations school, according to the military. Israel claimed to have eliminated more than ten combatants; however, CBS News was unable to independently verify this figure.
Aid organizations have reported that hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have fled since Israel began targeting areas of Rafah a week ago. Devastation has ensued as a consequence. Mustafa al-Gazzar, an 81-year-old individual, is currently residing in a makeshift camp as a refugee. He is one of those who managed to escape.
At present, twenty American medical personnel are confined within Gaza due to the obstruction of all exits.
“Leaving my spouse, two children, and immediate family has been an exceedingly challenging experience,” Dr. Mohammed Abdelfattah, a physician based in California, disclosed to CBS News. “I felt compelled to do so.” “I had the impression that my efforts back home were in vain; they were presumably unnoticed.”
Abdelfattah was scheduled to depart Gaza on Monday; however, he is presently confined to the European Hospital in Al-Fukhari, which is situated in close proximity to Khan Yunis. The local populace has been instilled with trepidation by the imminent operation in Gaza, according to him.
“I have been informed by numerous residents that Gaza lacks any secure havens.” “He explained that hospitals, mosques, churches, and bakeries have all been targeted in the past six to seven months.” “We are currently in a green zone, which is also referred to as a’safe zone.’ However, the population is cognizant that Gaza lacks such a zone.”
I have observed that a significant number of ICU patients are young children who are suffering from “severe burns and catastrophic injuries that virtually guarantee mortality here,” as per Abdelfattah. This is precisely the situation because of the lack of resources and supplies.
Furthermore, he stated, “Everything is intentional.” “This does not meet the criteria for a natural disaster.” These individuals are being subjected to this intentional catastrophe with the assistance of my government.
President Biden has expressed growing skepticism regarding the manner in which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has conducted the war and Gaza. He has even taken the unprecedented step of suspending the shipment of certain weapons to Israel due to his apprehensions regarding the IDF’s intentions in Rafah. However, Abdelfattah stated to CBS News that this is insufficient.
He continued, “American armaments are unleashed on the Palestinian people every hour, and our president, Joe Biden, has the capacity to put an end to this with the stroke of a pen.”
Abdelfattah stated that numerous individuals have told him, “The student demonstrations that are taking place across the nation back home are the only thing that is currently giving us hope.”
In the interim, Israel observed the 76th anniversary of its establishment on Tuesday. However, in the midst of the subdued commemorations, thousands of Israeli settlers marched toward Gaza, obstructing the entry of aid and requesting the right to construct settlements within the Palestinian territory.
According to aid organizations, the current condition of starvation among over one million Palestinians is catastrophic. Vice President Biden’s order to construct a floating pier to facilitate the acceleration of aid distribution may soon be operational, allowing for the entry of additional food and supplies into the territory.
