The Israel-Hamas war entered its 100th day on Sunday, January 14, 2023 and as at now, there is no sign of Israel relenting in its assault.
People in the besieged enclave have endured starvation, displacement, injuries and death of loved ones. Aside the deplorable condition faced by Palestinians, another group of people whose lives are in danger are the captives held in the enclave.
Already a number of them have died due to what Hamas said were Israeli attacks on where they were kept. If Israel does not reduce the scale and intensity of its attack on Gaza, chances that a greater number of hostages kept by Hamas will be killed or injured are high.
Currently, there seems to be a growing rift between close allies; Israel and U.S. Prime Minister Netanyahu has not relented in his bid to annihilate Hamas while U.S on the other hand, wants him to reduce, not stop, the bombardment.
The White House announced that “it’s the right time” for Israel to reduce the intensity of its war on Gaza.
White House National Security Council spokesman, John Kirby disclosed that the United States has been speaking to Israel “about a transition to low-intensity operations” in Gaza.
“We believe it’s the right time for that transition, and we’re talking to them about doing that,” he said.
US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken joined calls for the release of the remaining captives held in Gaza on the 100th day since they were taken by Hamas.
“100 days of captivity in Gaza is far too long,” Blinken said in a post on X.
“The United States will not rest until all remaining hostages, including six Americans, are reunited with their loved ones,” he added.
Hundreds of thousands of people gathered at major rallies in Malaysia, South Africa, the UK, Indonesia, Thailand, Japan, Italy, Greece and Pakistan this weekend, calling for an end to Israel’s war in Gaza as it reached its 100th day on Sunday.
However, Israeli military assaults on the besieged enclave show little sign of slowing as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to press ahead full force until Hamas is destroyed and all captives are freed.
UN Officials as well as other aid agencies and health personnel have decried the hopeless living conditions in Gaza on many occasions.
Dr. Mads Gilbert, a physician who worked in Gaza for more than 20 years, stated that the healthcare system collapse continues while the mayor of Gaza City in the north reported that it has not received “one drop of fuel” in months.
In the south, hospitals are overwhelmed with the wounded.
“It is a horrible situation. The healthcare capacity is not sufficient at all to handle this massive number of 61,000 injured. They are lacking everything, they don’t have antibiotics, anaesthetics, IV fluids,” Gilbert told a news agency.
“This is a systematic man-made disaster. This is planned and executed by the Israeli government with the full support from the US. It’s the worst man-made medical disaster in modern history.”
Dr. Mads Gilbert
Egypt Blames Israel For Blocking Aid Through Rafah
According to Diaa Rashwan, the Chairman of Egypt’s State Information Service (SIS), the lack of aid entering Gaza through Rafah and other border crossings has been solely caused by Israel.
“Throughout these 100 days, has been the stubbornness and intentionality of the occupying Israeli authorities, at other Gaza Strip crossings, delaying the inspection of aid before allowing its passage to the Palestinian side, by virtue of its military control over the territory of the Gaza Strip,” he was quoted as saying in an SIS post on Facebook.
Rashwan added that the Rafah crossing had not been closed “for a single moment” on the Egyptian side, while Israeli authorities deliberately disrupted or delayed the entry of aid “under the pretext of inspecting it.”
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