Three months ago, on October 7, 2023, Hamas launched an attack on Israel from Gaza in which 1139 were killed, at least 8,730 were injured and an estimated 240 hostages were forced into captivity in Gaza, of which at least 130 remain as prisoners in nightmares for themselves and families. Brutality of the attacks included credible reports of abhorrent rapes and sexual violence that are widely condemned and subjects of investigation by the United Nations Human Rights Council.
An unknown number of Palestinians remain under indefinite detention without trial by Israel, many under flimsy charges.
While some of those held are accused of “supporting terrorism”, many on the list are being held under the vague alleged offence of “damage to the security of the area”.
In response to the October 7 attack and abductions by Hamas, Israel has launched an offensive to free hostages and eliminate Hamas.
Gazans besieged by Israeli inflicted conditions worse than Apartheid, have since October been hit with devastation of their already blockaded territory. A running count of casualties hosted by Al Jazeera lists at least 22,835 Gazans killed and another 58,416 injured in the ongoing offensive. Residents dread nightfall as they persist under massive bombardment and constant siege.
In the aftermath of October 7 and the most violent year on record for illegal Israeli settlers, tensions in the West Bank continue increasing. At least nine Palestinians and two Israelis died in West Bank violence in recent days. Plus, Israel and Hezbollah have escalated attacking each other across the border with Lebanon.
Israel says that it has completed the dismantling of the Hamas military framework. Israel has killed Hamas leadership and family in Gaza and Beirut. One immediate result of eliminating Hamas leadership is that it hampers hostage release negotiations. Strategically, extrajudicial international assassination risks expanding the war in the Middle East.
In the process, Israel made Gaza uninhabitable. Gaza is a place of death and despair.
More than two million Palestinians in Gaza are facing daily threats to their existence, UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths has claimed as the death toll of Israel's assault passes 22,000
A Doctors Without Borders (MSF) official reported that "there’s nothing left" in Gaza due to relentless Israeli strikes.
The MSF on Friday shared witness account of its project coordinator Jacob Burns, who entered southern Gaza on Dec. 17 to see the horrific situation for Palestinians on the ground.
"Gaza is gone basically, there’s nothing left. And it's difficult for them to see a life here again which is very, very sad," Burns, who has worked in Gaza before, said in his voice notes, now shared by the MSF on X.
"It was still a massive shock to cross at Rafah and immediately find ourselves in encircled by people looking in the cars to see if we were bringing food or water, finding the streets of Rafah just absolutely full of people building shelters," he added.
Famine is imminent throughout Gaza. Refugees are overwhelming Rafah.
The city is usually home to only 250,000 persons. And now, it's more than 1.3 million
Reporters are not being spared in the conflict either. Two Palestinian reporters in Gaza are among the recent casualties.
South Africa is taking the case for Israeli genocide of Gazans to the Hague.
These are not sudden developments. It was apparent from early in the response that Israel was punishing Gazans for Hamas attacks. Reports that Gaza is being made unlivable have been coming for weeks.
Furthermore, Israel has been warned that it is risking strategic defeat in pursuit of short term victory.
“It would compound this tragedy if all that awaited Israelis and Palestinians at the end of this awful war was more insecurity, more rage and more despair,” (Secretary of Defense Lloyd) Austin said
Activists around the world are trying to show Israel, Hamas, and Hezbollah that there are peaceful alternatives. Palestinian, Arab, Israeli and Jewish women are working together for peaceful coexistence. See their efforts and show support at womenwagepeace.org.il. Join Jewish Voice for Peace, Jewish Socialists and hundreds of Jewish organizations calling for a ceasefire and humane treatment of all throughout Israel and Palestine.