At least 31 people died during Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip on Sunday, according to Palestinian medics. Nearly half of the deaths occurred in northern areas where the Israeli army has waged a month-long campaign to prevent Hamas from regrouping.
Accusations of Ethnic Cleansing
Palestinians accused the Israeli military of committing “ethnic cleansing” through its new aerial and ground offensives. They claim these operations aim to clear the population from two northern Gaza towns and a refugee camp to create buffer zones. However, Israel denies these claims, asserting that it is targeting Hamas militants.
Medics reported that at least 13 Palestinians were killed in separate attacks on homes in Beit Lahiya and Jabalia. Jabalia is the largest of Gaza’s eight historic refugee camps and has been the focal point of the recent military aggression. The remaining casualties resulted from various Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City and southern areas. One airstrike in Khan Younis killed eight people, including four children.
Ongoing Military Operations
Israel has not commented on its military actions in Gaza on Sunday. On Saturday, the Israeli military announced the deployment of a new army division to Jabalia to reinforce two existing battalions. A military statement indicated that hundreds of Palestinians have died in the “battles” since the conflict escalated on October 5.
Death Toll Rises in Baalbek as Israeli Attacks Intensify
Vaccination Campaign Interrupted
In a separate development, the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), Israel’s agency overseeing Palestinian civilian affairs, facilitated the launch of a second round of a polio vaccination campaign in northern Gaza on Saturday. According to COGAT, over 58,604 children received the vaccine.
However, the Gaza health ministry claimed that Israeli military actions have hindered their ability to vaccinate thousands of children in Jabalia, Beit Lahiya, and Beit Hanoun. They reported that one clinic was struck by Israeli fire while parents brought their children for vaccination, resulting in injuries to four children.
WHO Calls for Ceasefire
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), condemned the attack on the clinic. He noted that it occurred during a humanitarian pause agreed upon by both Israel and Hamas to facilitate the vaccination campaign. “This attack, during a humanitarian pause, jeopardizes the sanctity of health protection for children,” he said. Dr. Tedros emphasized that these vital humanitarian pauses must be respected and called for an immediate ceasefire.
The Israeli military did not immediately respond to Dr. Tedros’ remarks but stated it was reviewing the incident regarding the clinic attack.
Ceasefire Remains Elusive
A broader ceasefire to end Israeli military actions and secure the release of hostages held in Gaza remains unlikely. Disagreements persist between Hamas and Israel. Hamas demands a permanent end to Israeli aggression and has rejected recent offers for temporary truces. In contrast, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists that the war will conclude only when Hamas is eradicated.
Since the beginning of the conflict, Israeli military operations in Gaza have resulted in over 43,000 Palestinian deaths and have devastated much of the region. The situation continues to escalate as both sides remain entrenched in their positions.
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