In the latest spate of devastating violence to disproportionately target the Palestinian civilian population, Israeli bombardments in parts of the Gaza Strip early Thursday have left at least 35 Palestinians dead, according to the Palestinian news agency WAFA.
The most tragic losses of the day came from one bombardment in the residential building on al-Jalaa Street, Gaza City, which killed seven people-all civilians, including children and women-instantly. Such a wanton attack having taken place does show what brutal reality all civilians are facing, caught in this long-standing conflict.
Perhaps even more devastatingly, the attack on the shelter housing displaced persons west of the Nuseirat camp in central Gaza killed 15 Palestinians seeking shelter from the continuing violence. Such strikes on behalf of these kinds of vulnerable populations raise very urgent questions about the protection principles in humanitarian law at war.
Thirteen Palestinians were killed in another horrific incident in the southern city of Rafah while working to distribute vital goods. At least 30 individuals were injured in this strike, according to local doctors, and some of those injured had life-threatening ailments, adding to the already overburdened medical system.
Khan Younis’s position reflected the bloodshed of the day, as a separate Israeli bombing struck a group of individuals in charge of safeguarding aid shipments, injuring many people and bringing attention to the dangerous conditions faced by relief workers.
Concerns Around the World
These coordinated attacks are seen as a continuation of a military tactic that has raised a lot of concern with International human right agencies due to what is considered perceived indifference of armed forces on the lives of the civilians. The high death rate among unarmed civilians and especially children, women and aid personnel raise an implication of careless artillery practices by the military.
In its statement, the International Committee of the Red Cross urged warring parties to exercise restraint and desist from any conduct that violates standards of international humanitarian law which bans attacks aimed at civilians. However, the continuing bombardments appear to continue unabated with only marginal regard for such basic principles of human rights.
What cannot be emphasized enough, when thinking about such constant aggression, is the psychological and physical wear and tear experienced throughout the countries in conflict. Loss of dear ones, family members, friends, relatives and significant members of the society are being killed on daily basis, database and social cohesion are being eroded daily with new hope of living together fades with every new day.
As all these events continue to unfold the international community waits for an intervention through diplomacy and constructive dialogue to be considered hence making any diplomatic intervention more urgent than before. The violence and the aggression has to stop and there needs to be a way towards coming to terms and a peaceful settlement.
These are human lives, human dreams, human families, human potential, and yet war continues to rage year after year, month after month, day after day. Every figure means not only a figure but also a human being who was created and has one’s right to live.
