The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor strongly condemned Israel’s ongoing escalation of airstrikes on the Gaza Strip and its bombardment of civilian targets aiming to kill as many civilians as possible which constitute grave violations of human rights and war crimes under international humanitarian law.
Since the start of the unprecedented Israeli military attack on October 7 Israeli warplanes have dropped an average of 22 destructive missiles per square kilometer (sq. km) in the Gaza Strip an area not exceeding 365 sq. km and crowded with over 2.3 million people the Euro-Med underlined.
The Geneva-based organization added that the Israeli warplanes are continuously bombing crowded residential areas including civilian gatherings with previously unheard-of levels of firepower in order to cause the greatest number of casualties possible.
Hundreds of casualties were reported in these horrifying attacks which targeted civilian targets such as the Abu Dalal Shopping Center the popular market in the northern Gaza Strip town of Jabalia the central market in the Nuseirat refugee camp and a café in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip.
At least seven bakeries were bombed while civilians were there getting bread along with dozens of places of worship schools housing displaced people trying to find safe haven from Israeli attacks and the vicinity of hospitals and health centers.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) declared that at least 42 of its buildings had been attacked and damaged despite flying the UN flag and being supposed to be safe from attacks.
Over the past two days Euro-Med has observed an Israeli escalation of heavy air and ground bombardments throughout the Gaza Strip at night. The Israeli army declared that it had attacked 320 targets on Monday and 400 targets on Tuesday more than tripling the number of targets it had attacked on the previous two days.
The last 24 hours have also seen a number of violent attacks that the Euro-Med has well documented. These attacks have mainly targeted residential buildings in the Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip (63 people killed); in Rafah city (43 killed); in Deir al-Balah (14 killed) ; and in Khan Yunis (11 killed).
A further 1500 people at least 800 of whom were children were listed as missing presumed killed or trapped under the rubble and awaiting rescue or recovery.
Rescue teams—the majority of whom are from the Palestinian Civil Defense—are finding it difficult to complete their mission due to ongoing airstrikes the severe fuel shortage that makes it difficult for rescue teams to operate vehicles and equipment and the limited or nonexistent mobile network connectivity.
On October 21 an Israeli air strike hit a Civil Defense rescue team while performing a rescue operation east of Rafah killing one member and wounding four others bringing the death toll among Civil Defense personnel to 34.
5926 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the Israeli attack on Gaza including 2420 children and infants 1323 women and 5270 civilians in total. Approximately 16124 more people have been injured.
This was accompanied by heavy bombing that devastated and destroyed entire residential blocks and neighborhoods. In previous public statements Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari said that “Gaza will eventually become a tent city. Buildings will not exist” adding that “damage not accuracy” is the “focus.”
Based on Euro-Med data 39240 housing units were completely destroyed 122300 housing units were partially damaged and 103 health facilities 324 industrial facilities 89 schools 81 press offices 34 mosques and three churches were targeted.
The Euro-Med warned that Israel is escalating its retaliatory policies and its genocidal approach through the widespread destruction of the basic infrastructure in the Gaza Strip which appears to be part of its forced displacement plan in violation of international humanitarian law.
Additionally the human rights organization attested that the Israeli army’s ongoing assaults on the Gaza Strip are a violation of international humanitarian law particularly the requirements of necessity and proportionality given that Gaza lacks safe havens or shelters for civilians.
According to Euro-Med Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip and the Western leaders’ “solidarity” visits gave a green light for further awful crimes against Palestinian civilians.
