Gaza Violence Continues Despite US-Brokered Ceasefire
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to escalate, with at least 69,169 Palestinians reported killed since October 7, 2023, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health. Israeli military operations killed at least three Palestinians on Saturday, despite a United States-brokered ceasefire.
In a separate development, Hamas announced the recovery of the remains of Israeli officer Hadar Goldin, who was captured and reported killed during an Israeli offensive in Gaza in 2014. The recovery took place in a tunnel near Rafah, southern Gaza, highlighting the ongoing tensions despite efforts toward stabilization.
Details of Recent Killings in Gaza and West Bank
On Saturday, a Palestinian man was killed in the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza. Meanwhile, Israeli forces reported killing two Palestinians who allegedly crossed the “yellow line” in northern and southern Gaza.
Since the ceasefire on October 10, over 240 Palestinians have reportedly been killed, and new identifications of bodies have pushed the total death toll to over 69,000.
Adding to the tragedy, a Palestinian child died in Khan Younis after an explosive device left by Israeli forces detonated, according to Nasser Hospital.
In the occupied West Bank, violence continues. Abdel Rahman Darawsha was fatally shot during a raid on the Al Far’a refugee camp near Tubas.
Recovery of Israeli Soldier Hadar Goldin
Hamas confirmed the retrieval of Hadar Goldin, who had been reported killed in 2014 but whose body had never been returned. Goldin is one of five remaining Israeli captives slated for return under the terms of the ceasefire agreement.
Hamas also reported recovering the bodies of six Palestinian security members from the same site, raising concerns about the circumstances of their deaths.
Al Jazeera’s Tareq Abu Azzoum noted from Deir el-Balah that the site in Rafah had been inspected multiple times by Israeli forces over the past year.
Medical Crisis and Urgent Evacuations
The World Health Organization (WHO) called for the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt to be reopened to allow urgent medical evacuations.
Approximately 4,000 Palestinian patients have already left Gaza through Rafah for treatment abroad, but 16,500 patients remain in urgent need of medical care. WHO emphasized the crossing’s importance for both medical evacuations and delivery of essential health supplies.
West Bank Violence and Settler Attacks
Violence continues in the occupied West Bank, with Israeli settlers reportedly attacking Palestinians harvesting olives in Beita, south of Nablus. Witnesses reported assaults with clubs and rocks, resulting in dozens of injuries, including journalists and elderly activists.
The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate confirmed that five journalists were injured and condemned the attacks as targeted assaults on media personnel.
Israeli settlers have also targeted Palestinian homes and farmland in other areas, including Raba near Jenin, where soldiers reportedly assisted the attacks. Arrests of minors and other Palestinians were also reported across the West Bank.
Impact on Palestinian Livelihoods
The olive harvest, a critical symbol of Palestinian heritage, has been severely disrupted. The United Nations reports at least 126 settler attacks since September, with over 4,000 olive trees destroyed.
Additionally, clashes at mosques and religious sites have led to dozens of Palestinians suffering from tear gas inhalation, further escalating tensions.
Humanitarian and Political Implications
The ongoing violence in Gaza and the West Bank underscores a deteriorating humanitarian situation, with thousands killed, injured, or displaced. The recovery of Goldin’s body adds another layer of complexity to the already tense Israel-Hamas ceasefire.
International agencies, including the WHO and UN, continue to call for urgent access to Gaza for medical care, food aid, and essential supplies, highlighting the pressing need for a sustainable and enforceable ceasefire.
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