On Saturday, Israeli forces killed at least 109 Palestinians in Gaza amid ongoing military operations targeting the enclave’s largest city. In response to the attack on Gaza City, the Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s armed faction, released a “farewell” poster featuring 48 Israeli captives held in Gaza.
Accompanying the image, Hamas issued a statement criticizing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s refusal to negotiate, stating that the “farewell picture” was released as military actions commenced in Gaza City.
Fares Afanah, Director of Emergency and Medical Services for northern Gaza, characterized the situation in Gaza City as catastrophic after Israeli airstrikes targeted four residential buildings in the Al-Sabra area without prior warning, resulting in approximately 17 deaths and over 30 injuries.
The Gaza Government Media Office reported that more than 900,000 Palestinians remain in Gaza City and its northern regions, firmly resisting relocation to the south despite the harshness of the bombardments. They described the actions of Israeli forces as part of an ongoing campaign of “forced transfer” that significantly violates international laws and conventions.
Government teams have documented increasing forced displacement of residents from Gaza City toward southern areas due to Israeli attacks. They noted that nearly 270,000 individuals have been forced to leave their homes amidst the relentless strikes. Conversely, more than 22,000 residents returned to their original neighborhoods in Gaza City by Saturday noon, having initially relocated their belongings south for safety but returning due to a lack of basic necessities in those areas.
In a related development, Brazil has formally joined the case initiated by South Africa at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which alleges that Israel is committing genocide in the Gaza Strip. The Hague court confirmed on Friday that Brazil had filed a declaration of intervention under Article 63 of the ICJ statute.
This report is based on information from various sources, including the Gaza Government Media Office and statements from Hamas officials.
Tags: Israel, Gaza, Qassam Brigades, captives, conflict
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