The Israeli army continued its bombing and shelling of various parts of the devastated and destroyed Gaza Strip, ongoing for the 328th consecutive day, killing and wounding dozens of Palestinians amidst a catastrophic humanitarian situation due to the siege and the displacement of more than 95% of the population.
Media sources the army continued to bomb Gaza from the land, the air, and the sea, targeting various parts of the Gaza Strip, including many homes, schools, areas where displaced families’ shelters, and the densely populated refugee camp, causing dozens of casualties.
Eight Palestinians were killed many others were injured when the army bombarded the Abasan al-Kabira area east of Khan Yunis City, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, and the Zeitoun neighborhood south of Gaza City.
The Palestinian Civil Defense said five citizens were killed and many were injured when the army shelled a tent sheltering displaced people in the Wadi Saber area south of Abasan al-Kabira.
Additionally, three citizens were killed, and others were injured when an Israeli drone targeted many Palestinians in the Zaytoun neighborhood.
Furthermore, several citizens were killed, and many injured, some seriously, when the army shelled tents of displaced families in Asda’ area, north of Khan Younis.
In Rafah, in Gaza’s southmost part, at least four Palestinians were killed, and many were injured when the army bombarded the Al-Mashroa’ area, east of the city.
In related news, the Spokesman for the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, Stéphane Dujarric, condemned the Israeli army’s targeting of a humanitarian work vehicle in Gaza, which bore the UN insignia.
Dujarric explained that the army targeted the vehicle ten times with bullets, some of which hit the front windows, while the vehicle was part of a convoy whose movement was fully coordinated with the military.
The UN spokesperson pointed out that the vehicle was hit by at least ten bullets, five on the driver’s side, two on the passenger side, and three in other parts of the car. None of the staff on board the vehicle was physically harmed.
He emphasized the need to always respect international humanitarian law, which means protecting civilians and providing for their basic needs, including food, water, shelter, and health, wherever they are in Gaza.
The European Union announced, Thursday, its support for the call by the UN Secretary-General and the World Health Organization for “immediate humanitarian pauses” in the Gaza Strip to allow for a polio vaccination campaign.
In a statement, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, emphasized that “commitment to humanitarian truces by all parties will be crucial to successfully and timely implementing these urgent campaigns.”
The WHO representative in Palestine, Dr. Richard Peeperkorn, stated that the polio vaccination campaign in the Gaza Strip will begin on September 1st.
Dr. Mads Gilbert describes the impossibility of vaccinating Palestinian children in an environment where the people of Gaza are ‘being treated worse than animals.’ pic.twitter.com/lGK4Ll1g3E
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) August 29, 2024
Dr. Peeperkorn explained that “the Palestinian Ministry of Health, in cooperation with the World Health Organization, UNICEF, UNRWA, and partners, will administer two doses of the polio vaccine to more than 640,000 children under 10 years old in Gaza.”
In related news, a Hamas spokesperson announced the movement’s approval of the United Nations’ request for a 7-day humanitarian truce to allow for polio vaccinations.
Egyptian sources estimated that such a truce would begin in the coming days, explaining that the truce should last between three to five days during daylight hours and would not include areas where Israeli army forces are operating on the ground.
The sources clarified that this truce was discussed in Cairo during the visit of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken earlier this month.
According to Al-Arabi TV, in light of the stalled negotiations to reach a comprehensive ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, mediators have begun working on achieving a humanitarian ceasefire for several days to meet humanitarian needs and introduce polio vaccines and hygiene materials amidst the spread of various diseases among the displaced and fears of an epidemic outbreak in the Gaza Strip.
Israel has now killed at least 40,602 Palestinians, including 16,589 children and more than 11,207 women, and injured more than 93,855, largely children and women, in addition to the thousands (about 10,000, including 4,700 children and women,) who remain under the rubble, on destroyed streets in bombarded alleys in various parts of the Gaza Strip, since October 7, 2023.
