The Israel-Gaza conflict continues to escalate with devastating consequences, as the death toll in Gaza surpasses 40,000 amidst relentless Israeli airstrikes. In the occupied West Bank, violence has claimed hundreds of lives, fuelling anger and unrest across the region. As the humanitarian crisis deepens, with schools and healthcare facilities in ruins, calls for a ceasefire grow louder. Meanwhile, Israel is grappling with mass protests and a nationwide strike as citizens demand an end to the bloodshed.
Devastating Toll in Gaza
- The death toll in Gaza has reached a staggering 40,786, with another 94,224 people injured, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
- The UN refugee agency UNRWA says over 70% of its schools in the region have been destroyed or damaged, leaving over 600,000 children in Gaza "living in the rubble" with no access to education.
- UNRWA has reported that more than 87,000 children in Gaza have received the first dose of a polio vaccine, but ongoing Israeli airstrikes have made it extremely difficult for families to safely reach healthcare facilities.
- The commissioner-general of UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, warned that without a ceasefire, Gaza's children are at risk of
"falling prey to exploitation, including child labour and recruitment into armed groups."
Deadly Assault on the Occupied West Bank
- The Israeli assault on the occupied West Bank has killed 29 more people, bringing the total to 681 Palestinian deaths since October 7, including 154 minors and 11 women.
- Israeli forces have been accused of obstructing medical workers, including preventing Palestine Red Crescent ambulances from reaching wounded Palestinians in areas under attack.
- The Wafa news agency reported that two of the 17 people killed in Jenin were a Palestinian man and child who were shot while trying to distribute bread to residents.
- Israel's military has confirmed airstrikes on Jenin, claiming it targeted a group "throwing explosives" at its forces.
Terrorists in Judea and Samaria continue to plant explosive devices under roadways and within civilian infrastructure to harm security forces, posing a significant risk to the local civilian population.
During operational activity in Jenin, terrorists detonated an explosive… pic.twitter.com/qFcgUEcFgH— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) August 31, 2024
General Strike and Mass Protests Across Israel
Amid the escalating violence in Gaza and the West Bank, hundreds of thousands of Israelis have taken to the streets across the country to demand a ceasefire deal from Prime Minister Netanyahu's government. Israel's largest labour union, Histadrut, has responded by calling a nationwide general strike to put pressure on the administration.
The strike has disrupted transportation, with delays and cancellations reported for light rail services in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. However, the government has sought a court order to stop the strike, with the finance minister vowing not to pay any participating workers and accusing the union leader of "fulfilling Hamas's dream."
The Labour Court in Tel Aviv has since ruled that the strike must end by 2:30 pm local time, though protesters have vowed to continue demonstrating. Smaller right-wing organisations representing families of Israeli captives have also petitioned the court, calling the strike a "death sentence for the surviving hostages."
Attack on a School Sheltering the Displaced in Gaza
The ongoing Israeli bombardment of Gaza has also taken a devastating toll on civilians, with at least 11 people killed in an airstrike on a school sheltering displaced families.
According to civil defence rescuers, the strike hit a school in Gaza City where many Palestinians had sought refuge from the violence. The victims included women and children who were seeking safety in the educational facility.
A school shelter in Gaza City was hit by an Israeli military air strike as a ‘pause’ in attacks began in other areas in Gaza under an agreement to allow a polio vaccination campaign. pic.twitter.com/Brl4ubHkjC— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) September 2, 2024
The attack is the latest in a series of airstrikes that have caused significant destruction and loss of life across the Gaza Strip. The health ministry in Gaza has reported that the overall death toll from the Israeli offensive has now reached 40,786, with over 94,000 more people injured.
As the conflict enters its 11th month, the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, with the UN refugee agency warning that hundreds of thousands of children are now "living in the rubble" of destroyed homes and schools. Calls for an immediate ceasefire have grown louder, but prospects for a negotiated truce remain uncertain.
Efforts to Broker a Ceasefire
- Senior Hamas spokesman Khalil al-Hayya told Al Jazeera that Netanyahu has stood in the way of the group's readiness to sign a cease-fire agreement.
- The US has urged Israel's defence minister to conclude a truce deal "swiftly" to secure the release of the remaining captives held in Gaza.
- Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his New Zealand counterpart Chris Luxon have both called for an immediate ceasefire and the release of all captives, including two French-Israeli citizens.
- However, Anwar Ibrahim said prospects for a ceasefire do not look encouraging, as there is a lack of commitment from countries, particularly the US, to exert influence and stop the conflict.
- Israel's foreign minister, Israel Katz, has vowed that Israel will respond with "full force" after the discovery of the bodies of six captives, blaming Hamas for their deaths.
Escalating Regional Tensions
- Two people were killed in an Israeli drone strike near the town of Naqoura in southern Lebanon, according to Lebanese authorities.
- The attack targeted a vehicle belonging to a UN-contracted cleaning company, raising concerns about the potential for further escalation between Israel and Hezbollah, its Lebanese adversary.
- Separately, the UK maritime agency reported that a merchant vessel was attacked with two unknown projectiles off the coast of Yemen, in an incident likely linked to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
As the conflict rages on, the humanitarian situation in Gaza deteriorates further, leaving thousands of civilians trapped in a nightmare of destruction and loss. Despite mounting international pressure and growing protests within Israel, a ceasefire remains elusive. The world watches anxiously as efforts to broker peace continue, while the devastating toll on human lives and infrastructure in Gaza underscores the urgent need for a resolution.
Inputs by Agencies
Image Source: Multiple Sources
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