UN Investigators Accuse Israel of Genocide as Ground Invasion Intensifies
Amid escalating violence in Gaza, Civil Defense spokesperson Mahmoud Basal reported that Israeli airstrikes have left approximately 75,000 people homeless in the Gaza Strip over the past week, reports 24brussels.
Since the announcement of a ground offensive by Israeli forces, dubbed “Opening of the Gates of Hell,” widespread destruction has occurred across Gaza City. Reports indicate that twelve residential buildings, each over seven stories tall and containing roughly 500 apartments, were destroyed, displacing over 10,000 residents. Additionally, more than 120 smaller buildings were hit, displacing over 7,200 individuals, while around 30,000 people have suffered from partial damage to their homes.
The Civil Defense statement revealed that over 600 tents housing displaced families were also destroyed, leaving approximately 6,000 individuals without shelter. “Ten schools and five mosques were completely destroyed, leaving over 50,000 residents, including children, women, and the elderly, homeless amid a worsening humanitarian crisis,” Basal noted, calling on UN institutions and the international community to intervene and halt the ongoing Israeli aggression.
This ground offensive follows a report from an independent UN International Commission of Investigation that accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. Despite enduring significant damage due to Israeli operations since October 2023, Gaza City remained home to nearly a million residents until mid-August, when Israel signaled its intent to invade. Since then, approximately 350,000 Palestinians have fled the city, relocating southward in search of safety.
Meanwhile, the international community is responding to the crisis. In Madrid, the final stage of the Vuelta a España cycling race was suspended as massive protests erupted against the Gaza operations. Demonstrators called for justice and solidarity with Palestine, indicating a growing global awareness of the situation in Gaza.
The international outcry underscores the severe humanitarian implications of the ongoing conflict and the urgent need for diplomatic solutions to address the crisis in Gaza and beyond.
