Israel escalates genocide in Gaza

The aftermath of Israel’s attacks on Jalabia in Gaza (Photo:twitter/@OnlinePalEng)

Israeli forces had murdered at least 220 people by the tenth day of their siege of Jabalia refugee camp, northern Gaza, on Monday.

The siege is part of its wider operation of pushing into northern Gaza.

The United Nations now estimates that some 400,000 people are trapped in that part of Gaza.

Nasser, a resident of Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza, said, “As the world is focused on Lebanon and possible Israeli strike against Iran, Israel is wiping out Jabalia.

“The occupation is blowing up roads and destroying residential districts.

“People also don’t find anything to eat. They are trapped inside their homes, fearing bombs could fall onto their heads.” Israel previously issued an evacuation order to people in Jabalia—and then stopped people from leaving. 

“The soldiers suddenly entered from all areas and closed off all the exits from Jabalia,” Abed Ali, a camp resident, said.

On Monday, Israel attacked a food distribution centre in Jalabia and killed at least ten people. Meanwhile, Israeli forces shot two Palestinian men dead in Jenin, in the West Bank.

Israel killed at least 22 people—and injured dozens more—last Sunday as it targeted a school housing displaced Palestinians near the Nuseirat camp.

It marks one the deadliest massacres in Nuseirat since early June when Israel murdered 274 Palestinians. Israel also killed five children in air strikes targeting the western part of the al-Shati refugee camp, located north of Gaza City.

Israel targets journalists to hide crimes

Israel is trying to silence those documenting its genocide in Gaza. Soldiers shot Al Jazeera journalist Fadi Al Wahidi last week, leaving him completely paralysed.

On the same day, Israel attacked Tamar Lubbad Mohammed Al-Tanani, Palestinian correspondents for the Hamas-owned Al-Aqsa TV, in a drone strike.

They were covering Israel’s siege on Jabalia—Israel killed al-Tanani and Lubbard was seriously injured.

Israel has killed at least 174 journalists since 7 October last year according to Gaza’s media office.

Its forces recently shut down the Al Jazeera news agency offices in Gaza after raiding and destroying the site.

Children queue up for Polio vaccines

The second round of Polio vaccinations in Gaza started on Monday after Israel’s genocide allowed the deadly virus to re-emerge.

Gaza had been free from Polio for 25 years. But it broke out again because Israel has destroyed health infrastructure and medical supply chains.

It shows that Israel is not just murdering people with bombs and bullets.

In June the Lancet, a medical journal, reported that the long-term deaths in Gaza could be as high as 186,000 due to “indirect” deaths from Israel’s destruction. 

Last month, some 590,000 children were vaccinated against Polio.

The World Health Organisation said this second round is essential to stop the outbreak of the virus both in Gaza and internationally.