Gaza Archives - Page 123 of 153

Israel Forces Kill Own Officer, Soldiers by ‘Mistake’

CrossFireArabia
August 19, 2024

The Israeli military announced that an Israeli officer from the Paratroopers Brigade was killed after an Israeli Air Force jet “mistakenly” bombed its own forces in southern Gaza. The incident, which took place amid ongoing fierce battles with the resistance in the region, has raised many questions about the accuracy of the Israeli narrative, especially since the Israeli army has previously issued statements about similar events that were later proven to be false according to the Quds News Network.

According to an official statement from the Israeli occupation Forces, Lieutenant Shahar Ben Nun, a 21-year-old team leader in the Paratroopers’ Reconnaissance Unit from Petah Tikva, was killed when a bomb, dropped by an Israeli F-15 fighter jet, veered off course due to “a technical malfunction”. The bomb, intended for a target 300 meters away, instead struck an apartment in Khan Younis where Ben Nun and several other soldiers were positioned. The explosion caused part of the building to collapse, killing Ben Nun only, according to the Israeli claim, and injuring three other soldiers with injuries ranging from mild to moderate.

Israeli occupation soldiers uploaded footage of themselves randomly shooting and shelling an evacuated school in Gaza.

Israel's so-called "third phase" of the war has targeted facilities where Palestinians typically seek refuge after evacuation orders. In recent weeks, most of… pic.twitter.com/TDzPkVATie
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) August 19, 2024

The Israeli army stated that the incident occurred as fighter jets were conducting airstrikes on two separate targets in support of ground troops in Gaza. The military has launched an investigation into the incident, aiming to determine the exact cause of the malfunction and prevent similar occurrences in the future.

Earlier reports had highlighted intense clashes between Palestinian resistance fighters and Israeli forces in multiple areas of Khan Younis, located in southern Gaza.

In a separate statement, the Israeli army announced that over the past 24 hours, the Israeli Air Force had carried out more than 45 airstrikes on what it described as “terrorist targets” in Gaza.

As of today, the death toll for Israeli military personnel since the offensive erupted on 7 October, 2023, has reached 694, according to the Israeli military. These numbers have been questioned by some Israeli media, which have confirmed their inaccuracy, estimating the number of killed and injured soldiers to be far higher than what has been officially announced.

News

Israeli Forces Murder Another Journalist in Gaza

CrossFireArabia
August 19, 2024

With the killing of Ibrahim Muhareb near the Hamad Town, northwest of Khan Younis, this brings the total number of media workers killed by Israeli gunfire to 169 according to the Gaza Media office.

With the murder of journalist Ibrahim Muhareb, the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli occupation forces since the beginning of the Israeli aggression on Gaza has risen to 169, according to the Government Media Office in Gaza. pic.twitter.com/tEeX1sHMN1
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) August 19, 2024

His body was found, Monday morning, a day after he was shot at with a group of journalists that resulted in injury of fellow journalist Salma Al Qadoumi.

The killing of Muhareb through Israeli gunfire is trending on the social media with one blogger simply writing “horrifying. The price of reporting on the r#GazaGenocide, adding that the “idf deliberately targeted clearly identified journalists in Hamad town, Khan Younis.”

This is how you stop the world seeing what you're doing

RIP Journalist Ibrahim Muharebpic.twitter.com/t19RO3FGLe
— Sulaiman Ahmed (@ShaykhSulaiman) August 19, 2024

Another blogger wrote: “As usual the IOF [Israeli occupation force] is continuing to break every international law and specifically target journalists as they are showing the true face of the genocidal leeches colony. And as usual the international community let this happen with zero consequences. Can’t wait to see Israel fall.”

News

Suicide Bombs Return to Tel Aviv After 18 Years

CrossFireArabia
August 19, 2024

The first suicide bomb exploded in Tel Aviv, Sunday night causing mass damage as revealed by different media sources. This is the first suicide exoplosion in the heart of the Israeli city in 18 years according to one blogger.

Al-Qassam Brigades and Saraya al-Quds, claimed immediate responsibility for what they called a resistance operation that will continue inside Israel as long as the massacres, forced displacement of civilians and assassinations in Gaza persist by the Israeli army.

⭕️ Hebrew media: The occupation police officially announce that the explosion in Tel Aviv yesterday was a suicide operation, and the resistance fighter apparently arrived from an area in the West Bank.

⭕️ الإعلام العبري :
شرطة الاحتلال تعلن بشكل رسمي أن الانفجار في "تل أبيب"… pic.twitter.com/E3c2CHDePd
— Hassan Hamad (@Hassan_hamad77) August 19, 2024

“The Al-Qassam Brigades, in coordination with Saraya al-Quds, announce the execution of the resistance operation that took place last night, Sunday, in the city of Tel Aviv. The brigades affirm the resistance operations within the occupied territories [meaning Israel] will resurface as long as the massacres committed by the Israeli occupation, the displacement of civilians, and the policy of assassinations continue”, Al-Qassam announced on its official Telegram channel according to the Quds News Network.

The Israeli police confirmed that the Tel Aviv huge explosion was what they termed as a “terrorist attack” according to the Jerusalem Post.

They believe the perpetrator of the operation infiltrated the city from the Nablus area in the occupied West Bank. And thgus the security alert level in the greater Tel Aviv area has been notched up.

The Israeli police described the incident as “serious and dangerous,” with investigations by the domestic security force, Shin Bet and the police ongoing. “The Tel Aviv attack was 99% likely to be a terrorist act,” a police statement read, adding it was a “miracle” the explosion did not result in dozens of deaths.

The explosion on HaLechi Street in southern Tel Aviv, involved a powerful explosive device. The Israeli authorities urged the public to remain vigilant, report suspicious persons or objects, and exercise caution as security forces conduct extensive search operations across the city.

According to Israeli media, an Israeli was killed in the explosion, his identity remains unknown due to the severe condition of his body. Another passerby sustained moderate injuries from shrapnel caused by the blast.

⚡️Spokesperson for the occupation police: "What happened yesterday in Tel Aviv is difficult and dangerous, and investigations are ongoing by the Shin Bet and the police,

We still don't have a clue but there is a 99% probability that the bombing was a suicide operation."… pic.twitter.com/JOWbJhhqb0
— Lana (@RashadLana18915) August 19, 2024

Israeli Channel 13 reported have since stated that the police have officially recognized the explosion as a resistance operation.

Footage of the incident circulating on social media shows the significant damage caused by the explosion, with security forces and emergency responders on high alert in the aftermath of the attack.

News

UN Marks Deadliest Year For Aid Workers

CrossFireArabia
August 19, 2024

Aid workers on the frontlines of the world’s conflicts are being killed in unprecedented numbers, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said as it marked World Humanitarian Day, Wednesday.

With 280 aid workers killed in 33 countries last year, 2023 marked the deadliest year on record for the global humanitarian community.

This outrageously high number represents a 137 per cent increase compared to 2022, when 118 aid workers were killed.

2024 may be on track for an even deadlier outcome. As of 7 August, 172 aid workers have been killed, according to the provisional count from the Aid Worker Security Database.

More than half of the 2023 deaths were recorded in the first three months – October to December – of the hostilities in Gaza, mostly as a result of airstrikes. Since October, more than 280 aid workers – the majority of them staff members of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) – have been killed in Gaza alone.

Extreme levels of violence in Sudan and South Sudan have contributed to the tragic death toll, both in 2023 and in 2024.

In all these conflicts, most of the casualties are among national staff.

Many humanitarian workers also continue to be detained in Yemen.

“The normalization of violence against aid workers and the lack of accountability are unacceptable, unconscionable and enormously harmful for aid operations everywhere,” said Joyce Msuya, Acting Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. “Today, we reiterate our demand that people in power act to end violations against civilians and the impunity with which these heinous attacks are committed.”

On this World Humanitarian Day, aid workers and those supporting their efforts around the globe have organized events to stand in solidarity and spotlight the horrifying toll of armed conflicts, including on humanitarian staff. In addition, a joint letter from leaders of humanitarian organizations will be sent to the Member States of the UN General Assembly asking the international community to end attacks on civilians, protect all aid workers, and hold perpetrators to account.

Everyone can add their voice by joining and amplifying the digital campaign using the hashtag #ActforHumanity.

News

Poll: Israelis Support ‘Gang Rape’ of Palestinian Detainee

CrossFireArabia
August 19, 2024

A recent poll by the Israeli institute for national security studies has highlighted a troubling trend in Israeli public opinion regarding military accountability. The survey shows that a majority of Israelis support only disciplinary action for soldiers, who were filmed gang-raping and severely abusing a Palestinian detainee, rather than criminal prosecution according to the Quds News Network.

65% of Israelis surveyed believe that the soldiers should be addressed through internal military discipline only, rather than facing criminal charges. In contrast, only 21% advocate for criminal prosecution.

Last week, the Israeli military attorney’s office and defense lawyers agreed on the release to house arrest of the five soldiers, who were filmed while raping a Palestinian man in the notorious Sde Teiman detention camp.

Turns out these "right-to-rape" rally-goers aren't in the minority, they're among the super-majority 65% of Israeli Jews who support soldiers that gang-rape Palestinians abducted from Gaza. Poll results at Israeli's Institute for National Security Studies: https://t.co/zlSHGI7R2a pic.twitter.com/DIajwUJRnV
— David Sheen (@davidsheen) August 18, 2024

The poll also sheds light on broader sentiments towards Israel’s adherence to international law and moral standards in warfare. When asked whether Israel should comply with international legal norms and ethical standards during conflict, 47% of respondents said the occupation state should not.

The survey findings show significant alignment between public, official, and military positions in the occupation state regarding Israel’s policy of impunity on the international stage. Additionally, the poll queried how Israelis would advise their children regarding military service. A substantial 30% indicated they would encourage their children to enlist in combat roles.