The largest evacuation order since Israel broke a two-month-long ceasefire. Israel’s army is expanding its attacks against Hamas in Gaza, nearly two weeks after it resumed fighting and announced new evacuation orders for the entire region of Rafah in southern Gaza. This is its largest evacuation order since Israel broke a two-month-long ceasefire.
This comes as Gazans celebrate one of Islam’s holiest holidays. But in Gaza, prayers for Eid al-Fitr are surrounded by rubble. According to Palestinian health officials, Israeli airstrikes often kill the most vulnerable.
The Abu Sultan family, already displaced, were sheltering in their tent when missiles struck over the weekend, killing eight family members. The children were in their holiday best.
Hassan is four years old and Habiba is seven, said Muna Al-Harrani, a relative. “They were dressed for Eid. They were murdered while wearing Eid clothes.”
Last night, Israel’s cabinet approved plans to intensify the fight in Gaza. Israel’s Prime Minister said this would increase the pressure on Hamas and create the best conditions for the release of hostages.
The UN said eight of the workers were from the Palestinian Red Crescent, and one was a UN staffer. In a statement, the Israeli Defense Forces said the ambulances had been advancing suspiciously toward IDF troops without headlights or emergency signals.
Their movement had not been coordinated in advance. The IDF stated that the group included nine operatives from Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. However, the UN maintains that they were simply emergency workers, among more than a thousand killed since October 7, 2023.
Yesterday, they were finally buried in a solemn ceremony, flanked by other rescue workers whose ranks continue to thin as the war in Gaza drags on.
According to Reuters, the Israelis submitted a proposal that would see a ceasefire of more than a month in the Gaza Strip in exchange for about half of the remaining hostages being returned alive—thought to be around 24—and half of the remaining dead hostages, thought to be about 35. But despite this, it seems unlikely that Hamas would agree.
Source: raialkhalij + aljazeera