Copy in clipboard...
Israeli slaughter machine steamrolling through Gaza
100-plus Palestinians killed in 12 hours in fresh violation of truce deal
In about 12 hours from Tuesday to Wednesday, Israeli attacks on Gaza killed at least 104 Palestinians and wounded 253 others, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health.
“These documented crimes add to the long list of ongoing violations against our people,” the Palestinian Civil Defense in Gaza said in a statement, demanding an “immediate and comprehensive cease-fire” across the Strip.
One of the attacks hit a tent housing displaced people in Deir el-Balah, in central Gaza, according to medical sources. Other attacks targeted the northern and southern parts of the Palestinian territory.
The strikes — the deadliest since the cease-fire took effect on October 8 — marked the most serious challenge to the tenuous truce to date.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had ordered the military to conduct “powerful strikes” over Gaza after accusing Hamas of violating the cease-fire when the group handed over body parts that Israel said were the partial remains of a hostage recovered earlier in the war.
Netanyahu called the return of these body parts a “clear violation” of the cease-fire agreement, which requires Hamas to return the remaining captives in Gaza as soon as possible.
Hamas has said it is struggling to locate the bodies amid the vast destruction in Gaza, while Israel has accused the group of purposely delaying their return.
The US president defended Israel’s actions on Wednesday, citing groundless reports that a 37-year-old Israeli soldier had been killed in southern Gaza.
“As I understand it, they took out an Israeli soldier,” Trump told reporters on board Air Force One as he travelled from Japan to South Korea, saying he heard the soldier was apparently killed by sniper fire. “So the Israelis hit back and they should hit back. When that happens, they should hit back,” he added, calling Israel’s attacks “retribution” for the soldier’s death.
Hamas has denied responsibility for the alleged attack on Israeli forces in Rafah, southern Gaza, and said in a statement that it remained committed to the cease-fire deal.