Turkey Denounces ‘War Crime’ Following Israeli Attack on Khan Younis

On Tuesday, UN Middle East peace envoy Tor Wennesland criticized a deadly Israeli airstrike in Khan Younis, Gaza, where local medical officials report multiple casualties. The strike left dozens dead or wounded, further highlighting the ongoing violence in the region.

The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the strike, emphasizing that the international community’s inaction towards implementing international law has allowed Israel to conduct further assaults in areas like al-Mawasi in Gaza. They stated, “An immediate ceasefire is the only way to protect Palestinian civilians and create a suitable environment for achieving a prisoner exchange deal.”

According to the Gaza Health Ministry, the overall death toll since the onset of hostilities on October 7 has now exceeded 41,000, with over 94,000 others injured. The toll includes at least 32 fatalities and 100 injuries reported in the 24 hours prior to this announcement.

ActionAid reported that humanitarian workers in Gaza have encountered “severe safety risks and enormous challenges” while attempting to deliver aid. They noted instances where the Israeli military targeted aid warehouses and vehicles. Despite these obstacles, the charity highlighted a successful polio vaccination campaign for children under ten that has been underway since the beginning of September. The UN’s Palestine relief agency, UNRWA, confirmed that over 446,000 children have been vaccinated due to temporary pauses in fighting agreed upon by Hamas and Israel.

However, concerns remain about further vaccine transportation to medical locations in Gaza as hospitals face critical fuel shortages along with continual threats to aid operations. ActionAid’s report elaborated on the dire conditions faced by aid workers, indicating that the humanitarian area designated in August had shrunk to less than 11% of the Gaza Strip, thereby restricting access to vital aid supplies.

Turkey’s Foreign Ministry denounced the airstrikes, labeling them a “war crime.” They condemned the loss of life among displaced Palestinians residing in the al-Mawasi area, insisting that Israel has added another crime to its list of offences against the Palestinian people. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has vocally opposed Israel’s actions in Gaza, calling for international accountability.

In a different context, the Houthi rebels from Yemen claimed responsibility for downing a US drone, marking the ninth aircraft of this type downed since the outbreak of conflict in Gaza. This reveals the Houthis’ ongoing support for Hamas as they express solidarity with the Palestinian cause.

Commenting on the situation in Gaza, Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated that Hamas no longer functions as a cohesive military formation but instead resorts to guerrilla warfare. He argued that the military has severely diminished Hamas’s capabilities, asserting that over half of the leadership of Hamas’s military wing had been eliminated. Though these figures have been challenged by Hamas representatives, the Israeli government continues to maintain its position that significant damage has been inflicted on the organization.

Australian officials are collaborating with UK allies to exert pressure on Israel to alleviate the humanitarian plight faced by Palestinian civilians. This cooperation includes backing the UK’s decision to restrict arms exports to Israel, which diverges from the approach taken by the US and indicates a shift in Australia’s stance on the ongoing conflict.

Reports indicate that numerous civilians have suffered devastating losses due to the airstrikes in al-Mawasi. Civil defense authorities stated that rescue crews are actively searching for individuals missing from the tent encampment struck by Israeli airstrikes earlier in the day. Victims of the strikes described harrowing scenes, with entire families reportedly lost beneath collapsed structures.

As the conflict persists, international calls for a ceasefire grow louder. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has expressed deep concern over the unprecedented levels of suffering in Gaza, noting that the situation has escalated to alarming heights. He implores the need for humanitarian action and a meaningful pause in the violence to protect innocent lives.

In a larger context, the humanitarian conditions in Gaza continue to deteriorate, as thousands flee to areas deemed safe but find themselves in overcrowded and resource-limited environments. Even designated “humanitarian zones” like al-Mawasi are not safe, raising questions about the efficacy of such designations in conflict settings.

As the number of verified casualties continues to rise, the plight of Gaza’s civilians is drawing international scrutiny and urgent calls for an end to hostilities that have left deep scars on the region.

Source: The Guardian