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Qatar Tribune
18-05-2025
- Health
- Qatar Tribune
Israel begins Gaza ground operation, kills 140 in relentless bombardment
Agencies tel aviv/Gaza The Israeli military has announced the start of extensive new ground operations throughout northern and southern Gaza, on a day it killed at least 140 people in waves of relentless strikes across the Palestinian enclave. At least 36 people were killed and more than 100 wounded when Israeli warplanes bombed a tent camp sheltering displaced Palestinians in the al-Mawasi area of Khan Younis in southern Gaza, medical sources told Al Jazeera. Verified videos from the scene showed many bodies, including some on fire. The dead and wounded were taken to a nearby field hospital and the Nasser Medical Complex. At least 135 people were killed on Sunday morning, including 42 in the heavily bombed northern parts of Gaza, medical sources told Al Jazeera Arabic. Five journalists were also among the victims when their homes were bombed. At least 464 Palestinians have been killed in the past week as the Israeli military prepared to significantly intensify its ground invasion of the Palestinian territory despite international criticism. At least 53,339 Palestinians have been killed and 121,034 wounded since the start of the war in October 2023, according to Gaza's Ministry of Health. The Israeli army on Sunday confirmed the start of Operation Gideon's Chariots, which will involve regular and reserve soldiers of the Southern Command leading the ground invasion of both northern and southern Gaza, backed by the air force. It reported attacking more than 670 places in Gaza over the past week and claimed all were 'Hamas targets' located both above and beneath the ground. Israel has been accused of disproportionately targeting civilians in Gaza, including displaced families. Among the targets have been three major hospitals, adding to the systematic targeting of healthcare facilities across the enclave that has now put three hospitals out of commission this week alone. The Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza was rendered nonoperational on Sunday after the Israeli army laid siege to it beginning at dawn. Marwan al-Sultan, the director of the facility, which was the last functioning public hospital in the north, described the situation as 'catastrophic' and called on international organisations to press for medical teams' safety. Dr Muhammad Abu Salmiya, director of al-Shifa Hospital in northern Gaza, told Al Jazeera that the bombing of the Indonesian Hospital is severely impacting chances of survival for those in need of medical care. Thousands of sick and wounded people could die, he warned, adding that blood donations are urgently needed. Dr Muhammad Zaqout, the director general of hospitals in Gaza, condemned 'Israel's systematic measures against hospitals'. 'Israel deliberately kills wounded people by preventing them from reaching hospitals and directly targets patients, the wounded and medical staff inside hospitals,' he told Al Jazeera. He said al-Awda Hospital in northern Gaza's Jabalia and European Gaza Hospital in southern Gaza have also been bombed, endangering patients and medical staff. Hamas said in a statement early on Sunday that the attacks on displaced Palestinians in Khan Younis marked a 'brutal crime' that was a flagrant violation of international laws and norms. 'By granting the terrorist occupation government political and military cover, the United States administration bears direct responsibility for this insane escalation in the targeting of innocent civilians in the Gaza Strip, including children, women, and the elderly,' the Palestinian group said, also condemning the 'ongoing persecution and killing' of media workers. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned Israel's expanding operation in Gaza. 'I am alarmed by reported plans by Israel to expand ground operations and more,' he said on X on Saturday. On Saturday, both Israel and Hamas confirmed that more mediated talks were under way in Qatar.
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First Post
18-05-2025
- Politics
- First Post
'Barrage of bombs': UN human rights chief accuses Israel of 'ethnic cleansing' in Gaza
UN human rights chief Volker Türk alleged that the Israeli campaign was aimed at denying humanitarian assistance to Palestinians and displacing the local population read more A Palestinian walks past a rubble of houses destroyed during Israel's offensive, in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, March 13, 2025. (Photo: Reuters) A whopping 140 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza in the last 24 hours as Israel presses ahead with its fresh offensive in Gaza, prompting renewed allegations of ethnic cleansing. Local health officials claim that more than 300 people have perished since the Israeli campaign resumed last Thursday (May 15), ushering in one of the deadliest periods in the war since ceasefire talks broke down in March. 'Since midnight, we have received 58 martyrs, while a large number of victims remain under the rubble. The situation inside the hospital is catastrophic,' Marwan al-Sultan, the director of the Indonesian hospital in northern Gaza said Saturday (May 17). STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD UN condemns dramatic escalation The escalation by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) was condemned by the UN human rights chief on Friday. Volker Türk alleged that the Israeli campaign was aimed at denying humanitarian assistance to Palestinians and displacing the local population, which he said was equivalent to ethnic cleansing. 'This latest barrage of bombs … and the denial of humanitarian assistance underline that there appears to be a push for a permanent demographic shift in Gaza that is in defiance of international law and is tantamount to ethnic cleansing,' he said. UN Secretary General António Guterres echoed similar sentiments. While speaking at an Arab League summit in Baghdad on Saturday, Guterres called for a permanent ceasefire and lasting peace. Israel's justification Israel claims that the expanded operation in Gaza is a part of Operation Gideon's Chariots, which is meant to 'achieve all of the war goals in Gaza'. The strikes and accompanying mass mobilisation of troops along Gaza's borders indicate that Israel may be moving towards establishing 'operational control' of parts of the besieged territory. A ceasefire that began in January fell apart in mid-March when Israel did not proceed to the planned second phase, which could have ended the conflict. The chance of a lasting peace seemed even more unlikely when Israel's security cabinet approved plans in early May that might involve taking over the entire Gaza Strip. Arab league summit The Arab League summit , held on Saturday, focused heavily on the Gaza ceasefire talks. Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein mentioned that the attending ministers would support a reconstruction plan for Gaza, differing from Trump's proposal to take control of the Palestinian territory. The ministers later committed $40 million for rebuilding efforts in Gaza and Lebanon. On Saturday, Hamas announced that new ceasefire talks with Israel had started in Doha, Qatar. A Hamas official, Taher al-Nono, told Reuters that both sides were discussing all issues without any preconditions.
