Escalation of the war between Israel and Hamas. Tonight, Israel is intensifying its war on Hamas as an Israeli airstrike struck a United Nations facility. Palestinian health officials said the strike killed 19 people, more than half of them children. Among the dead was Samuel Alito’s father. She was only 11 years old.
As Israel expands its fighting, its war goals are shifting. The country’s Minister of Defense said today that this latest offensive aims to capture extensive territory. The families of the remaining hostages in Gaza expressed horror at this announcement and demanded that Israeli officials focus on a negotiated deal with Hamas.
Hours later, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed these new priorities, announcing that Israel’s army is seizing yet another roadway that bisects the Gaza Strip.
But much of that pressure falls on Gaza’s civilians. It has been a month since Israel cut off all humanitarian aid to the enclave, including food. This move, Israel said, was aimed at pressuring Hamas to free the hostages.
Food for families is increasingly scarce. Muhammad, who is seven years old, said, “I want to eat meat and rice.” Yesterday, all of the bakeries supported by the United Nations were forced to shut.
This soup kitchen, one of Gaza’s largest, which tens of thousands depended on, is now down to just a few pots. Fresh water is scarce, people here say, and so is cooking gas. For many, Israel’s constant bombardments are only one danger.
Al-Halabi said two bags of bread aren’t enough for her family of ten. The demand is so severe, she said, that fights are breaking out in the bread lines. Israeli officials had claimed Gaza had plenty of food, but the U.N. called that claim ridiculous.
“WFP doesn’t close its bakeries for fun,” said a U.N. official. “If there’s no flour, if there’s no cooking gas, the bakeries cannot open.” Only a few bakeries remain open, and their supplies are dwindling.
Ayman Abuhabib has been waiting since early morning and still hasn’t gotten bread to feed her young child. “Our life is harsh,” she said. “I swear it will be famine, and people will eat each other.”
Matt Bradley joins us now from Tel Aviv. Matt, as Gazans brace for more hardship, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is starting a controversial visit to Hungary tonight, right?
That’s right. It’s the first time he’s visited a state that is a signatory to the International Criminal Court, for which he is under suspicion. He’s supposed to be arrested upon landing in Hungary.
But already, Viktor Orbán, one of his closest allies, has made it clear he will not be arresting Netanyahu. Just like Netanyahu was able to visit the United States a couple of months ago—since the U.S. is not a signatory to the ICC treaty.
One interesting irony is that the ICC indictment against Netanyahu includes at least one charge for using food as a weapon.
Source: raialkhalij + aljazeera