IRIA News

More than 700 Palestinians were killed in Gaza by Israeli airstrikes in the last 24 hours, Gaza’s health ministry reported. Israel conducted more than 400 airstrikes in Gaza on October 24, 2023, targeting what it claims are terrorists’ hideouts. Israeli bombardment has killed 6,500 Palestinians including 2,700 children in two weeks.

Tuesday hight has been described as the “bloodiest night” for Gaza as falling buildings kept crushing families under the rubble. Israeli military conducted the highest number of airstrikes in a single night on October 24, resulting in more than 700 deaths, mostly women and children. The attacks were reported in Jabalia and Beit Lahia in the north of Gaza, Al Wusta and Al Rimal neighborhood, Al Shati camp in the west, and Khan Younis and Rafah in the south. Israel reported 320 strikes the day before. 

In the wake of the Hamas assault on October 7, Israel launched a continuous aerial bombardment of Gaza that has killed more than 6,500 Palestinians. There are 2,704 children among the dead, according to Gaza authorities. The airstrikes have wounded 17,000 people in Gaza, with many succumbing to their wounds after hospitals began to shut down in the Palestinian territory.

Medical workers and health officials said that the medical facilities remain shut in Gaza due to the power outage and infrastructure damage as well as a severe lack of medical equipment, resulting in further loss of life.

Humanitarian pause instead of ceasefire

The United States and the United Nations, along with Canada, have appealed for a humanitarian pause in the Israel-Hamas conflict, rather than a ceasefire, to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians. During the meeting of the United Nations Security Council, the members appealed for an immediate pause in bombing in the Israeli-besieged Gaza Strip.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told the Security Council, “Palestinian civilians are not to blame for the carnage committed by Hamas.” Without calling for an immediate ceasefire, Blinken added that “Palestinian civilians must be protected. That means Hamas must cease using them as human shields. It means Israel must take all possible precautions to avoid harm to civilians.”

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau echoed Washington’s narrative. “There are a lot of conversations going on now about the need for humanitarian pauses and I think that’s something Canada supports,” he told reporters in Ottawa. “We must remain anchored on the priorities of protecting innocent and freeing the hostages.”

Aid is not enough

The United Nations humanitarian support agencies said they were pleading “on our knees” for the emergency or emergency aid to be let into Gaza. Several humanitarian groups have reported that more than 20 times the current deliveries are needed amid widespread devastation.

The United States has been negotiating with Israel and Egypt to allow the smooth deliveries of humanitarian aid, however, Israel’s strict border control does not allow deliveries to cross into the region. According to the Palestinian Red Crescent, only eight trucks of humanitarian aid were allowed to cross the border from Egypt into Gaza, a narrow strip of more than 2.3 million people.

All hospitals say they are running out of fuel to power their electricity generators, leaving them increasingly unable to treat the injured and ill. More than 40 medical centers have halted operations, a health ministry spokesman said.

UNRWA, the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, warned that it would be forced to halt operations in Gaza on Wednesday night because of the lack of fuel.

In response to UNRWA, the spokesperson of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said that fuel will not enter Gaza. He said that Hamas would use the fuel for its operational infrastructure. “Hamas can return the fuel it stole from UNRWA hospitals,” he added.

French President in Israel

French President Emmanuel Macron is the latest Western leader to visit Tel Aviv amid Israel’s brutal bombing of Gaza. During his visit, Macron suggested that the international coalition established to fight the Islamic State terror group should be expanded to fight Hamas after the deadly October 7 assault on Israel.

“The security of Israel cannot be long-lasting without a decisive relaunch of the political process with Palestinians,” Macron said at a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Avec le Président Isaac Herzog et le Premier ministre Benyamin Netanyahou, pour témoigner de la solidarité des Français à l’égard du peuple Israélien. pic.twitter.com/IDv9Nw728r

— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) October 24, 2023

The Palestinian militant group Hamas does “not carry the Palestinian cause” and should be fought, but Palestinian aspirations must be heard “with reason,” Macron said. Netanyahu said Israel would try to protect civilians as it worked to ensure they “will no longer live under Hamas tyranny”.