Israel hammers Gaza after US approves $13 billion
ISRAEL pounded Gaza with air strikes and artillery fire in its war against Hamas yesterday after the US Congress approved $13 billion (about R250bn) in military aid. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said the Senate’s approval of the aid package already passed by the House of Representatives sent a “strong message to all our enemies”.
US-Israeli relations been strained by Israel’s conduct of the war in Gaza and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s determination to send troops into the southern Gazan city of Rafah, where 1.5 million people are sheltering, many in makeshift encampments.
Fears are rising that Israel will soon launch an assault on Rafah, which it says is the “last” major Hamas stronghold, but aid groups warn any invasion would create an “apocalyptic situation”. Yesterday, hospital and security sources in Gaza reported Israeli air strikes in Rafah, as well as the central Nuseirat refugee camp. Witnesses also reported heavy bombardment of several areas of northern Gaza during the night, while the Israeli military said its aircraft “struck over 50 targets” over the previous 24 hours. Netanyahu, however, has insisted the assault on Rafah will go ahead.
Citing Egyptian officials briefed on the Israeli plans, the Wall Street Journal said Israel was planning to move civilians from Rafah to nearby Khan Yunis over a period of two to three weeks. Satellite images shared by Maxar Technologies showed new blocks of tents that had been set up in recent weeks in southern Gaza.
The journal reported that Israel would then send troops into Rafah gradually, targeting areas where Hamas leaders are thought to be hiding in an operation expected to last six weeks.
Ismail al-Thawabta, head of the Hamas government media office said an invasion would be a “crime” and that central Gaza and Khan Yunis “cannot accommodate the numbers of displaced people in Rafah”.
The Israeli army announced the death of a soldier in Gaza, raising its losses to 261 since the ground operation began. Israel estimates that 129 of the 250 people abducted by Hamas remain in Gaza, including 34 it says are presumed dead.
The UN human rights office said it was “horrified” by reports of mass graves found at the Gaza Strip’s two biggest hospitals after Israeli sieges and raids. Israel has targeted hospitals during the war, accusing Hamas of using them as command centres and to hold hostages. Hamas denies this.
Gaza’s Civil Defence agency said nearly 340 bodies were uncovered of people killed and buried by Israeli forces at the Nasser Hospital in the southern city of Khan Yunis.
The Israelis said claims it had buried Palestinian bodies were “baseless”, without directly addressing allegations that Israelis were behind the killings.
The EU has backed a call from UN human rights chief Volker Turk for an “independent” probe into the deaths at the two hospitals.