UN reports 500,000 displaced in Gaza after Israel resumes attacks
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), approximately half a million Palestinians have been forced to flee their homes in Gaza after Israel resumed military operations following the collapse of a truce with Hamas, Anadolu Agency reported. The renewed offensive, which began on March 18, effectively ended a ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal that had been in place since January 19.
Meanwhile, Israel’s defence minister has said troops will remain in so-called security zones they have established by seizing large areas of Gaza even after an end to the war.
The conflict has taken a devastating human toll, with nearly 51,000 Palestinian casualties reported since the war began in October 2023. Tragically, the majority of victims have been women and children.
On Wednesday Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) became the latest international organisation to sound alarm at the impact of Israel’s campaign, saying that Gaza had been “turned into a mass grave of Palestinians and those coming to their assistance”.
The International Criminal Court took significant action in November by issuing arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, charging them with war crimes and crimes against humanity related to their actions in Gaza. Additionally, Israel is currently facing genocide allegations at the International Court of Justice for its military campaign in the Palestinian territory.
