UPDATE: In a devastating escalation, Gaza’s civil defense agency reports that Israeli strikes have killed at least 40 people across the territory on Wednesday, September 20, 2023. This attack coincides with Israel’s intensified military campaign in Gaza City, where an estimated 550,000 people have fled their homes, facing dire humanitarian conditions.
The Israeli military has launched a large-scale air and ground offensive on Gaza City, which began on September 19, aimed at dismantling Hamas following nearly two years of conflict. The ongoing operation has led to massive displacement, with the UN declaring a famine in the area where approximately one million residents live.
Eyewitness reports reveal heartbreaking scenes. Thaer Saqr, a 39-year-old resident, recounted the tragic loss of his sister during an attack while fleeing south. “The tanks on the coastal road… opened fire on us, and my sister was killed,” he told reporters. Saqr’s plea for help resonates deeply as he stated, “I appeal to the world: help us. How can we evacuate when we have no shekels, no transportation, and no place to go?”
The civil defense agency confirmed that among the fatalities were 22 individuals who died in three air strikes targeting a warehouse sheltering displaced persons near the Firas market in Gaza City. Disturbing footage shows rescuers digging through rubble, with several children among the deceased. Reports indicate that many families have been left homeless, forced to sleep on the ground without shelter.
From Al-Shifa Hospital, the grim toll continued to rise as reports indicated that at least 11 bodies were received, with many victims severely mutilated from the attacks. Mohammed Hajjaj, who lost family members in the onslaught, described the chaos: “We came and found children and women torn apart. It was a pitiful sight.”
In southern Gaza, further tragedy unfolded near an aid distribution center in Khan Yunis, where Israeli fire claimed the lives of eight more individuals. Local residents have labeled these aid centers as “death traps.” “I advise everyone to prevent their children from going to them,” said Hosni Abu Amsha, whose nephew was killed in the incident.
As the Israeli military continues its ground offensive, it has directed civilians to seek refuge in a so-called “humanitarian area” in the Al-Mawasi coastal zone, which has faced repeated strikes despite being designated as safe. Eyewitness Mahmud al-Dreimly expressed his despair while searching for shelter, stating, “I felt death was near.”
The situation has drawn international scrutiny, with a recent UN probe accusing Israel of committing “genocide” in Gaza. Israel vehemently rejected these claims, calling the findings “distorted and false.”
The conflict has escalated dramatically over the last two years, with figures from the Hamas-run health ministry indicating that military operations have resulted in the deaths of at least 65,419 Palestinians, the majority being civilians. This staggering number follows the initial attack by Hamas that sparked the war, which resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people in Israel, mostly civilians.
As the conflict unfolds, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens, demanding urgent global attention and intervention. The situation remains fluid, with further developments expected in the coming days.
