Israel-Gaza Conflict: Death Toll Rises as Attacks Continue

The Israeli military has continued its deadly assault on Gaza, killing at least 13 people in attacks across the enclave since dawn, according to medical sources. This brings the total number of Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks across Gaza on Wednesday to 44, including 18 aid seekers. The number of people who have died from starvation and malnutrition has risen to 193, with five new confirmed hunger-related deaths in the past day.

Human Rights Watch has condemned the “widespread carnage” caused by Israeli forces in Gaza, particularly in schools sheltering displaced people. The organization investigated two school strikes, including the Khadija girls’ school in Deir al-Balah and al-Zeitoun C school in Gaza City, where no evidence of military targets was found, making them “unlawfully indiscriminate”. Gerry Simpson, associate crisis, conflict, and arms director at Human Rights Watch, stated, “Israeli strikes on schools sheltering displaced families provide a window into the widespread carnage that Israeli forces have carried out in Gaza. Other governments should not tolerate this horrendous slaughter of Palestinian civilians merely seeking safety”.

The Norwegian government has announced a review of its sovereign wealth fund’s investment in Israel after discovering a stake in an Israeli company providing parts to fighter jets. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere expressed concern, saying, “We must get clarification on this because reading about it makes me uneasy”. The fund, worth nearly $2 trillion, has faced scrutiny for its investments in companies linked to Israel’s military actions in Gaza.

The Israeli government is discussing plans to build thousands of new residential units in the occupied West Bank for Israeli settlers, which would divide the Palestinian territory into two and link the settlements to occupied East Jerusalem. This move has sparked concerns about further displacement and human rights abuses against Palestinians.

The United Nations has warned that Israel’s blockade of Gaza has put the lives of over 100 premature babies in “imminent danger” due to a lack of fuel for life-saving operations in hospitals. Slovenia has announced a ban on all imports from illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, further isolating Israel internationally.

In response to the escalating violence, Hamas has called for global protests to demand Israel open all border crossings and allow aid to enter Gaza. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced he would convene his security cabinet to discuss the next steps in the war on Gaza. Sixteen media organizations and press freedom groups have called for an end to Israel’s “forced starvation and targeting of journalists in Gaza”, highlighting the dire situation for media personnel in the conflict zone.