GAZA CITY: Israel continued its heavy and brutal bombing campaign in the besieged Gaza Strip, facing widespread accusations of deliberately starving innocent Palestinian people. The Israeli bombardments, now in their third month, have resulted in the deaths of another 110 people in strikes on Jabalia, outside Gaza City, the territory’s health ministry reported.
The UN Security Council in New York is set to vote on a ceasefire resolution for the besieged territory despite previous attempts being vetoed by Israel’s key ally, the United States. Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin is expected to return to Israel as part of a Middle East tour aimed at halting the escalating violence.
Gaza’s health ministry reported that more than 19,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed since October 7. The territory is now grappling with mass displacement, food and water shortages, and plummeting winter temperatures.
Human Rights Watch Accuses Israel of War Crime
Human Rights Watch, a New York-based campaign group, accuses Israel of using starvation as a method of warfare, labeling it a war crime. The group claims that Israeli forces are intentionally blocking the delivery of essential supplies, impeding humanitarian assistance, and destroying agricultural areas crucial to civilian survival.
The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, Philippe Lazzarini, expresses concern about the possibility of people dying from hunger, diseases, or weakened immunity due to the dire conditions in Gaza. Families of the remaining hostages held in Gaza demand action, especially after Israeli forces deliberately shot dead three escapees who had waved white flags and left a message on a sheet written in Hebrew.
International pressure mounts on Israel to halt hostilities, with calls for a ceasefire and diplomatic efforts to address the humanitarian crisis. Hospitals, many of which no longer function, face destruction amid the ongoing conflict. The UN Security Council is set to vote on a resolution calling for an urgent and sustainable cessation of hostilities. Fears grow that the violence could escalate further.
