On Tuesday, Day 165, the Israeli army continued its genocidal war on the Palestinians in the devastated, starved, and destroyed Gaza Strip, killing and wounding dozens of residents, including women and children.
The Israeli army fired dozens of missiles and shells at various parts of the coastal enclave, mainly in Jabalia refugee camp in the north, in central Gaza, and in Rafah in the southmost parts of the coastal enclave.
The Palestinian Health Ministry said the army continued its invasion and destruction of the Shifa Medical Center in Gaza, killing and wounding many Palestinians, after detaining all medical staff, preventing them from evacuating wounding Palestinians in its yards.
The Health Ministry added that the army is firing live rounds at any Palestinian seen near the windows and doors of all parts of the medical facility.
Also, the army fired a missile at a home near Sa’id al-Mishal Foundation for Culture and Science, west of Gaza City, causing many casualties.
At least six Palestinians were killed and dozens were injured in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood, in Gaza City, after the army fired missiles and shells at homes and buildings.
The army targeted many homes and buildings in and around Al-Qarara town, in Khan Younis, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, causing many casualties.
The army also fired dozens of artillery shells at homes and buildings in the eastern and the northern areas of the Nusseirat refugee camp, in central Gaza, causing dozens of casualties, including many fatalities.
This Palestinian journalist’s photos of destruction in Gaza went viral. Then Israel targeted him in a strike, causing him to lose both his legs.
Now he urgently needs to leave Gaza for medical care. pic.twitter.com/o6xfFySRFd
— AJ+ (@ajplus) March 18, 2024
In addition, the army fired missiles and shells at homes and buildings near the Al-Matahen junction, south of Deir Al-Balah, and many artillery shells at homes, east of the Al-Boreij refugee camp, in central Gaza.
The Israeli army also fired dozens of artillery shells at areas in the eastern part of the Jabalia refugee camp, in northern Gaza.
In Rafah, in the southmost part of the Gaza Strip, the army fired missiles at homes and buildings in several parts of the city, including the Shaboura area, killing twelve Palestinians and wounding dozens.
Late on Monday night, the army fired missiles and shells at two homes and an apartment in several parts of Rafah, killing at least fourteen Palestinians and wounding dozens.
The targeted homes and the apartment are in the areas of Mosbeh, Khirbat Al-Adas, and the Al-Jneina neighborhood.
It is worth mentioning that Israel announced, Monday, its plans to conduct a massive operation in Rafah after forcing the Palestinians to head to the western part of the city.
Israeli Foreign Minister, Yisrael Katz, said “Israel will of course operate in Rafah, but before the massive invasion, it will force the Palestinians to head, not to the north, but to the western areas,” Al-Jazeera reported.
Over the last several weeks, Israeli officials have been rejecting the return of the Palestinians from southern Gaza to their areas in the northern parts.
Katz said that there are Arab countries, which he did not name, that will be willing to install tents and other shelters to temporarily house the refugees.
Various countries warned on the repercussions of a ground invasion of Rafah, where at least 1.4 Million displaced Palestinians fled to after Israel claimed the area was safe, but later started bombing it, killing and wounding hundreds of Palestinians.
UNRWA said 2.1 Million Palestinians across the Gaza Strip face crisis levels of food insecurity or worse and added that half the population is struggling with catastrophic hunger, while children are dying of dehydration & malnutrition.
Famine is imminent in northern Gaza, according to the world’s leading experts on food insecurity.
Repeating his call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, @antonioguterres said the new report is an appalling indictment of conditions on the ground. https://t.co/S3GHc64Klm pic.twitter.com/tTfigJKbpJ
— United Nations (@UN) March 18, 2024
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres reiterated his calls for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip after he earlier said that the famine in northern is a manmade disaster that must be stopped.
He added that the situation in Gaza is unimaginable and must not be tolerated or accepted.
“Palestinians in Gaza are enduring horrifying levels of hunger and suffering”, said Guterres outside the Security Council in New York.
“This is the highest number of people facing catastrophic hunger ever recorded by the Integrated Food Security Classification system – anywhere, anytime,” he added.
“This is an entirely man-made disaster, and the report makes clear that it can be halted,” he warned, saying this showed the need for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.
Since the beginning of the war on #Gaza, the Israeli occupation has continued to target the Palestine Red Crescent teams, resulting in the killing of 14 of our teams while they were performing their humanitarian duty.
RIP our humanitarian heroes 🙏 pic.twitter.com/Cd4Q3vIw8g— PRCS (@PalestineRCS) March 19, 2024
“I call on the Israeli authorities to ensure complete and unfettered access for humanitarian goods throughout Gaza and for the international community to fully support our humanitarian efforts.” Read Full Statement
It is worth mentioning that the heavy rain overnight and in the morning in several parts of the Gaza Strip have resulted in flooding hundreds of tents for displaced Palestinians, including many children, elders and patients, especially in the northern areas of the coastal enclave, in addition to Deir Al-Balah, Khan Younis and Rafah.
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) said Gaza became a “graveyard for children,” with at least 13.790 Palestinian children killed by Israel since October 7, 2023.
It added that the army also resumed its attacks in Gaza City and the Shati’ refugee camp, killing and wounding many Palestinians.
UNICEF said that about 17.000 Palestinian children are unaccompanied or have been separated from their families due to the ongoing Israeli bombing.
Israel has now killed at least 31,726 Palestinians, including more than 13.790 children, and injured more than 66,287 in the Gaza Strip since October 7. Most of the casualties in the Gaza Strip are women and children.
