On the fifteenth day of relentless Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, the toll of innocent lives lost has tragically surpassed 4,137, with heart-wrenching statistics revealing that 1,524 of these victims were innocent children. As the relentless onslaught continues, the consequences have been devastating, ripping apart families and shattering communities.
☦️🇮🇱 Orthodox Christians in Gaza hold a procession for the 18 civilians, including 8 CHILDREN, who where MURDERED in Israel’s TERRORIST BOMBING of Gaza’s oldest CHRISTIAN Church. pic.twitter.com/Ak88NlDBTW
— Jackson Hinkle 🇺🇸 (@jacksonhinklle) October 20, 2023
The horrifying reality on the ground is bleak, with over 5,500 residential buildings turned to rubble, leaving 14,200 housing units destroyed and countless families displaced from the only homes they’ve ever known. Adding to the desolation, 160 schools now bear the scars of this catastrophic aggression, with 19 of them being rendered completely unusable.
The Gaza government’s media office, during a somber press conference, shared the grievous extent of the destruction, stating that “Israeli bombings have mercilessly wiped out 5,500 residential buildings, leaving 14,200 housing units obliterated. Families, already grappling with the harsh conditions of the blockade, have now been left homeless, struggling to survive.”
A Palestinian baby in the Gaza Strip is having difficulty breathing as a result of inhaling dust caused by the destruction of their home during an Israeli airstrike.#Gazagenocide pic.twitter.com/lOxqFX4ye4
— PALESTINE ONLINE 🇵🇸 (@OnlinePalEng) October 21, 2023
While the international community watches, the Gaza Ministry of Health continues to bear witness to the mounting suffering and unbearable loss endured by the besieged Gazans. Their dedication to preserving life is unparalleled, with medical staff working tirelessly to provide care and alleviate suffering despite limited resources and increasingly overwhelmed facilities.
A Palestinian who lost 16 of his family members, including this little baby: “Oh Netanyahu, we will never surrender.” pic.twitter.com/ONDmdc52mP
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) October 21, 2023
The Palestinian Red Crescent said in a statement that it had received a threat from the Israeli occupation authorities to shell Jerusalem Hospital. It indicated that the army had demanded “the immediate evacuation of the hospital, which houses more than 400 patients and about 12,000 displaced civilians who have taken refuge there, as a safe place.”
The Palestinian Red Crescent called on the United Nations General Assembly to take immediate action to prevent a new massacre like the one that happened at the Al-Ami Hospital.
The Ministry of Interior in Gaza says a civil defense employee has been killed in an Israeli airstrike targeting a civil defense facility in Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip. pic.twitter.com/qcMdmBVWha
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) October 21, 2023
The head of the government media office in the Gaza Strip, Salama Ma’rouf, also warned against the recurrence of the Al-Ami Hospital massacre, which killed hundreds of people, including children.
On the other hand, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) announced today that five schools under its supervision that have been used by Palestinians in the city of Gaza are “no longer safe” after receiving an Israeli warning. In a statement, it said that the occupation had informed it “of the need to evacuate these infrastructures as soon as possible,” expressing its regret for this threat.
A Palestinian medical doctor says an immediate ceasefire is necessary for medical personnel to cope with the unsustainable situation in Gaza’s overburdened hospitals.#GazaGenocide pic.twitter.com/6HTmBEakwI
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) October 21, 2023
As the war rages on, supplies are desperately needed to aid those left without homes, food, or medical treatment. The Gaza government has reported the arrival of a limited convoy of aid with essential medical supplies and canned food, but the lack of fuel remains a pressing concern. The international community has been called upon to intervene and prevent further suffering in Gaza.
Source: Palestinian and Israeli media (translated and edited by Al-Manar English Website)
