Zionist Regime Strikes Claim 46 Lives as Gaza Offensive Reaches 20-Day Mark
Zionist military operations have intensified both aerially and on the ground throughout the Gaza Strip, resulting in the deaths of at least 46 Palestinians in a single day. This marks the 20th consecutive day of the ongoing assault by Israeli forces.
Israeli aircraft and unmanned drones launched strikes targeting multiple locations within the blockaded territory, as reported by Al Jazeera on Sunday. The offensive efforts were particularly focused on Khan Younis and Rafah, two cities situated in the southern part of Gaza.
In Khan Younis, at least 19 Palestinians, including women and children, have lost their lives. Authorities have indicated that the death toll is expected to rise.
There has been ongoing demolition of homes in both Rafah and Beit Lahiya.
The Israeli military has initiated a fresh ground offensive in the “Morag Axis” area of southern Gaza, a development that Palestinian authorities caution could signal an effort to reoccupy and partition the region.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, the resumption of hostilities by Israel on March 18, in violation of a ceasefire agreement, has resulted in at least 1,309 fatalities and 3,184 injuries in Gaza. Since the conflict’s inception on October 7, 2023, the cumulative death toll has exceeded 50,600.
Israel has acknowledged that it “mistakenly” targeted and killed medical personnel in Gaza following the release of leaked video footage. The incident has sparked criticism and raised concerns about operational conducts in the conflict-stricken region.
The Israeli military has initiated an investigation following the emergence of video footage that challenges its previous assertion regarding 15 medics who were killed by Israeli forces in Gaza last month. The footage contradicts claims that the medics were not visibly marked or utilizing emergency signals.
A video released by The New York Times depicts Red Crescent and Civil Defense vehicles, with their lights flashing and logos prominently displayed, as they advance towards an ambulance caught in the line of gunfire.
The Israeli military admitted to the inconsistency but stated that its preliminary evaluation was grounded on the accounts provided by its soldiers.
During a briefing on Saturday evening, an Israeli military spokesperson announced that the forces had “mistakenly” perceived the paramedics as a threat. The spokesperson confirmed that the incident is currently under a “thorough investigation.”
Hamas has demanded an independent inquiry following the emergence of new video evidence related to the incident.
The Gaza-based Palestinian group released a statement asserting that undeniable visual evidence debunks the occupation’s alleged false claims of ‘suspicious movement,’ demonstrating the deliberate targeting of humanitarian personnel. They argue that this constitutes premeditated murder under international law.
The strike that took place on March 23 in Rafah resulted in the tragic loss of eight Red Crescent workers, six Civil Defense members, and one United Nations staff member. Following the incident, the bodies and vehicles were interred using bulldozers.
