This Wednesday, December 27, the Israeli army is increasing strikes on the Gaza Strip as part of its operation against Hamas which, according to it, could last for “many more months” despite serious humanitarian concerns.
Information to remember:
⇒ Israeli forces “expand” operations in camps in central Gaza
⇒ Six dead in Israeli raid in occupied West Bank
⇒ UN appoints Dutch minister to coordinate humanitarian aid to Gaza
Israeli army orders evacuation of al-Bureij camp
In Gaza, Israeli forces are “fighting in Khan Younes” (south) and “extending” their operations in camps in the center, army spokesperson Daniel Hagari said Tuesday evening. The army issued an evacuation order to residents of the al-Bureij camp (center) and its surroundings. Some had already fled to Rafah, where they arrived with their luggage piled on the roof of their cars, according to AFP.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights once again said it was “deeply concerned about the continued Israeli bombing of central Gaza” and called for a distinction to be made” between civilians and combatants.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced earlier this week an “intensification” of strikes on Gaza, where telecommunications were still cut early Wednesday. “We say to Hamas terrorists: we see you, we will come to you […] we will intensify the fighting in southern Gaza and elsewhere,” he later said during a visit to the Israel Space Agency.
Despite this “intensification” of fighting, the conflict in Gaza could continue for months, army chief of staff Herzi Halevi warned on Tuesday, stressing that “the objectives of this war are not easy to achieve “.
Six dead in Israeli raid in occupied West Bank
An Israeli operation in a Palestinian camp in the northern occupied West Bank left six people dead and many injured early Wednesday, the Palestinian Ministry of Health announced.
“Six martyrs killed by the occupation (name given to Israel by Palestinian officials, editor’s note) and seriously injured were transported to the Thabet Thabet government hospital in Tulkarem,” the ministry said in a brief statement. According to the official Palestinian Wafa agency, these six people were killed by Israeli airstrikes on the Nour Shams camp located near the town of Tulkarem, where Israeli soldiers were also deployed. Questioned by AFP, the Israeli army did not immediately comment on this information.
Washington discusses with Israel the transition to “a different phase” of the war
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer discussed Tuesday Israel’s move to “a different phase” of its war against Hamas in Gaza, according to a U.S. official.
Jake Sullivan discussed with this person close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “the transition to a new phase of the war to concentrate on important Hamas targets”, according to this official of the American executive branch, who requested anonymity. Also discussed during this exchange were “practical steps to improve the humanitarian situation and minimize the harm done to civilians” and “efforts” to promote the release of hostages still in the hands of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas.
UN appoints Dutch minister to coordinate humanitarian aid to Gaza
The UN announced on Tuesday the appointment of an outgoing Dutch minister, Sigrid Kaag, as coordinator of humanitarian aid and reconstruction in Gaza, following a Security Council resolution on aid to the bombed Palestinian territory and besieged by Israel.
Sigrid Kaag will “facilitate, coordinate, monitor and verify shipments of humanitarian aid to Gaza” and will also have the task of “establishing a United Nations mechanism to accelerate shipments of humanitarian aid to Gaza through States not parties to the conflict,” Secretary General Antonio Guterres’ spokesperson said in a statement. She is due to take office on January 8, he added.
An appointment welcomed by the United States, which wants coordination “on efforts to accelerate and streamline the delivery of vital humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians in Gaza”, said the spokesperson for the Department of Defense. State Matthew Miller in a statement.