Netanyahu: "Gazans are not starving"; over 400 aid-seekers killed in 2 weeks

Netanyahu in denial about famine in Gaza, as more die of starvation; Israeli forces again opened fire on aid-seekers, killing at least 11; Israel will self-investigate assassination of elderly, deaf Gazan man; parts of Khan Younis leveled; mercy ship “Open Arms” headed from Cyprus to Gaza; West Bank deaths; Israel’s failure to comply with ICJ orders; support for Zionism in the US is on the decline; more

NETANYAHU ON GAZA – Politico reports: In a recent interview, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has denied people are starving in Gaza and blamed Hamas for the lack of humanitarian aid entering the occupied territory.

Although the United Nations warns that famine is imminent and the World Health Organization says that children are starving to death in Gaza, Netanyahu denies these reports.

In an interview with Axel Springer, Politico’s parent company, he said: “We don’t have that kind of information. That’s not the information we have. And we monitor it closely.”

“More importantly, it’s not our policy. Our policies are to put in as much humanitarian aid as we could,” Netanyahu added.

Asked why more aid isn’t reaching Gaza by land, Netanyahu said: “Hamas is coming at gunpoint and stealing the food.

“Humanitarian deaths and starvation is, for us, it’s a tragedy. For them, it’s a strategy. They think that this will help them place more pressure on Israel to stop the war, leave them in place so they can repeat the October 7 massacre.”

NOTE: PBS reports: David Satterfield, the Biden administration’s special Middle East envoy for humanitarian issues, recently said that Israeli officials have not presented “specific evidence of diversion or theft” of U.N. assistance. Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders have spread false statements throughout this conflict (and before) to justify the massacre of Gazans.

Among Israel’s recent lies are numerous atrocity stories about the October 7th attack that have since been proven untrue (additional examples here). Previously, Israel has been caught in many lies – for example, this and this and this. Visit https://www.oct7factcheck.com/index for a growing list of debunked myths.

NOTE: German publishing house Axel Springer, which recently acquired Politico magazine and Business Insider, requires from “every employee of our company” a commitment to Israel’s ‘right to exist’ (i.e. Israel’s alleged right to ethnically cleanse the land).

Palestinians break the fast (iftar) under difficult conditions in Jabalia refugee camp on the first day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in Gaza on March 11, 2024.

GAZA – Al Jazeera reports: In what has become the new “normal,” Israeli forces opened fire yet again on a group of aid-seekers. So far, at least 11 people have been reported killed as a result of direct attacks by the Israeli tanks, and multiple injuries, close to 25, with different injuries, as we were told by paramedics at al-Shifa hospital.

The Government Media Office says that more than 400 aid seekers have been killed since the “flour massacre” in late February.

ISRAEL TO SELF-INVESTIGATE – Al Jazeera’s Laura Khan reports from occupied East Jerusalem: The Israeli military sent a statement to a local news outlet saying they are setting up a probe to look into the killing of a disabled and unarmed Palestinian man in Gaza – a killing that was caught on a soldier’s bodycam video.

It happened at the Shati refugee camp on November 6. The statement claimed the soldiers were operating under very difficult circumstances and they were under fire at the time.

But as is clear from the video, the victim was an unarmed older man who was shot dead by an Israeli soldier; the soldier then celebrated what had just happened.

NOTE: The footage does not seem to indicate either “very difficult circumstances” or troops “under fire.” IAK will report on any developments in this story. Once again, Israel appears to be fabricating a story to justify its actions.

FAMINE – Al Jazeera reports: Local sources say that two more children have died due to severe malnutrition and dehydration at Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahia, in northern Gaza.

This brings the official total number of Gazans (mostly children) who have starved to death to 27.

NOTE: Euro-Med Monitor reports that Gaza’s elderly are dying at an alarmingly high rate. The majority die at home and are buried either close to their residences or in makeshift graves dispersed across the Strip. There are currently more than 140 such cemeteries. Additionally, according to Euromed, thousands have died from starvation, malnourishment, and inadequate medical care; these are considered indirect victims as they were not registered in hospitals.

GAZA – Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud reports from Rafah: Monday saw a surge in Israeli attacks in the eastern part of Khan Younis and Gaza City.

In Khan Younis, there is not only an intense bombing campaign, but there is an ongoing systematic, controlled demolition of residential homes, to the point that entire areas in the eastern part of Khan Younis have been completely cleared from all physical structures of residential homes or infrastructure.

AID ON THE WAY TO GAZA – The New Arab reports: A charity ship carrying almost 200 tonnes (about 220 tons) of food left Cyprus on Tuesday morning in the first trip of its kind since the war between Hamas and Israel broke out five months ago.

Organized by Spanish aid group Open Arms and World Food Kitchen the barge is expected to arrive on Gaza’s shoreline within two days. It is not clear exactly where the ship will land, as US plans announced last week to build a floating pier for aid delivery are yet to begin.

AID BLOCKED FROM GAZA – Social Media: Phillippe Lazzarini, the head of UNRWA, says a truck loaded with humanitarian aid for Gaza was turned back by Israel because medical scissors were onboard.

“Medical scissors are now added to a long list of banned items the Israeli Authorities classify as ‘for dual use’. The list includes basic and lifesaving items: from anesthetics, solar lights, oxygen cylinders and ventilators, to water cleaning tablets, cancer medicines and maternity kits.”

WEST BANK DEATHS – IMEMC reports: On Monday, Israeli forces working undercover shot and killed Tawfiq Ayed Fawwaz Hussein, age 25, from Kafrit village, west of Jenin. The soldiers prevented Palestinian ambulances from entering the area.

Israeli forces also killed Mohammad Ja’far Mustafa Jabr, from the town of Arraba, refused to allow the Palestinian medics to take him.

We recommend visiting the International Middle East Media Center (IMEMC) for more regional news.

ISRAEL – The Guardian reports: Twelve of Israel’s most prominent human rights organizations have signed an open letter accusing the country of failing to comply with the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ’s) provisional ruling that it should facilitate access of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Signatories include veteran whistleblower group Breaking the Silence and the Association for Civil Rights in Israel.

“As members of Israel-based civil society committed to human rights and the rule of law, we condemn the fact that Israel has so far failed to change its behavior based on the measures imposed by the ICJ, as well as the fact that humanitarian aid to Gaza dropped by 50% in the month following the ruling,” the letter reads.

New film: Investigation finds Israeli military likely involved in October 7 ‘friendly fire’ deaths (under 9 minutes)

STATESIDE – Andalou Agency reports: Support for Zionism in the US is on the decline, according to a Jewish-American journalist.

Aaron Gell, whose article titled Has Zionism Lost the Argument? in The New Republic, in which he drew attention to the increase in anti-Zionist demonstrations in the US, told Anadolu that support for Zionism is declining in the US, adding: “More Americans of Jewish descent than I have ever seen before openly identify themselves as anti-Zionists.”

Pointing to a poll published by the think tank Data for Progress on Nov. 5, 2023, Gell said that more than 60% of American voters support a cease-fire in Gaza.

“Those who identify as Zionists seem to be questioning the strength of their commitment (to the ideology,” he stressed.

NOTE: Although the popularity of Zionism in the US may be dropping, pro-Israel organizations are pushing back hard, including monetizing the tragic events of October 7th, as the next story illustrates.

Palestinians line up for food in Rafah, Gaza Strip, in December.

STATESIDE – Jewish Insider reports: Since Oct. 7, the Jewish Federations of North America and the individual federations have run at least 60 solidarity missions to Israel, bringing some 1,000 community leaders on brief visits, usually lasting about 48 hours, to show their support for the country and to bear witness to the atrocities committed during the massive Hamas terror attacks.

A JFNA spokesperson told JI that these trips are part of the reason that the umbrella organization has managed to raise over $783 million in emergency fund allocations for Israel, $360 million of which has been allocated to supporting the affected communities, helping provide food, housing, mental health services and special needs.

NOTE: Meanwhile, Israel has run a smear campaign against a major human rights organization assisting Palestinians – UNRWA – causing the group to lose hundreds of millions of dollars in aid, while the people of Gaza starve.

NOTE: Israel has disseminated numerous atrocity stories about the October 7th attack that have since been proven untrue. In addition, a number of the Israeli soldiers and civilians killed on October 7 were shown to have been killed by Israeli fire. The Israeli military has also disseminated false stories about civilians captured. Visit https://www.oct7factcheck.com/index for a growing list of debunked myths.

NOTE: There is no indication that the events of October 7th were antisemitic. In fact, Hamas has explained in no uncertain terms why it carried out its attack.

Jewish Insider reports: Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA), the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said on Monday, “I worry that Prime Minister Netanyahu’s conduct in the war threatens to undermine support for Israel in the long term, including in the United States. This international support has been key to Israel’s security and, as a longtime friend of Israel, this is a concerning and potentially significant legacy of this war.”

The few remaining hospitals across Gaza are badly overcrowded. In Rafah, 77 newborns were sharing 20 incubators

More news:

Al Jazeera: Palestinian official slams Netanyahu’s plans to build more detention centers

EuroMed Monitor: ICC Prosecutor shows clear double standard when dealing with situation in Palestine

Palestine Chronicle: Gaza’s Premature Babies Cling to Life – PHOTOS

Middle East Monitor: Israel Brigadier-General found guilty of blowing up university in Gaza, officially reprimanded

Reuters: NGOs sue Denmark to end arms export to Israel

Middle East Eye: Mother fears ‘imminent’ loss of last child to starvation

Palestine Chronicle: “Legend of Khan Younis” – Israel kills top Gaza, Arab Footballer

Jewish Insider: Maryland rabbis urge Sen. Van Hollen to change course on Israel rhetoric

Jewish Insider: South Africa’s chief rabbi tells AIPAC African countries could be key allies to U.S., Israel

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STATISTICS OCTOBER 7 – MARCH 11:

Palestinian death toll from October 7 – March 11: at least 31,609* (31,184 in Gaza* (72% women and children), and at least 425 in the West Bank (113 children). This does not include an estimated 7,000 more still buried under rubble (4,900 women and children). Euro-Med Monitor reports 39,178 Palestinian deaths.

At least 38 Palestinians have died in Israeli prisons (27 from Gaza, 11 from West Bank)

At least 27 Palestinians have died due to malnutrition**

About 1.7 million, or 75% of Gaza’s population are currently displaced.

About 2.2 million (out of total population of 2.3 million) are facing Crisis, Emergency, or Famine levels of food insecurity.

Palestinian injuries from October 7 – March 11: at least 77,554 (including at least 72,889 in Gaza and 4,665 in the West Bank).

It remains unknown how many Americans are among the casualties in Gaza.

Reported Israeli death toll from October 7 – March 11: ~1,403 (~1,139 on October 7, 2023, of which ~574 were civilians, 373 or 337 were security and/or military forces, ~32 were Americans, and ~36 were children); 249 military forces since the ground invasion began in Gaza;, 15 in the West Bank) and~8,730 injured.

NBC reports: “According to the latest available IDF data… nearly 1 in 5, or 17%, of all Israel’s losses have come not at the hands of Hamas but from mishaps on its own side.”

NOTE: It is unknown at this time how many of the deaths and injuries in Israel on October 7 were caused by Israeli soldiers.

*Previously, IAK did not include 471 Gazans killed in the Al Ahli hospital blast since the source of the projectile was being disputed. However, given that much evidence points to Israel as the culprit, Israel had previously bombed the hospital and has attacked many others, Israel is prohibiting outside experts from investigating the scene, and since the UN and other agencies are including the deaths from the attack in their cumulative totals, if Americans knew is now also doing so.

**Euro-Med Monitor reports that Gaza’s elderly are dying at an alarmingly high rate. The majority die at home and are buried either close to their residences or in makeshift graves dispersed across the Strip. There are currently more than 140 such cemeteries. Additionally, according to Euromed, thousands have died from starvation, malnourishment, and inadequate medical care; these are considered indirect victims as they were not registered in hospitals.

Find previous daily casualty figures and daily news updates here.

For more news, go here and here. Broadcast news from the region is here.

Hover over each bar for exact numbers.
Source: IsraelPalestineTimeline.org

Netanyahu: “Gazans are not starving”; over 400 aid-seekers killed in 2 weeks