The health authorities in Gaza, controlled by Hamas, reported over 18,000 casualties, prompting President Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. to caution that the Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was losing global support due to what he termed “indiscriminate bombing” in the densely populated area.
Joseph Robinette Biden Jr., the President of the United States, expressed his strongest condemnation to date of Israel’s actions in its conflict with the Palestinian militant group, Hamas
This criticism underscored a growing divergence between President Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. and Prime Minister Netanyahu, who remains steadfast in continuing the bombing campaign in southern Gaza despite significant civilian casualties and the uncertain fate of over 100 hostages reportedly held in the region.
Israel’s military asserted that during a terror rampage by Hamas militants on October 7, approximately 1,200 people were killed, and more than 200 were abducted. Although half of the hostages have since been released, the conflict persists with no call for a new cease-fire from the Biden administration, drawing mounting criticism.
Amid the ongoing war, southern Gaza witnessed another night of devastating casualties from Israeli airstrikes, overwhelming hospitals running low on essential supplies. The Israeli military argued that Hamas exploited designated “safe zones” to launch attacks, with 116 rockets fired toward Israel since October 18.
A UNICEF spokesman, James Elder, described the situation as a “nightmare,” emphasizing the threat of both air attacks and disease
Gazan civilians, urged by Israel to seek shelter in a designated “humanitarian area,” faced dire conditions lacking essentials such as water, sanitation, food, and protection. The Health Ministry in Gaza warned of disease spreading due to a lack of clean water, with health facilities depleted of children’s vaccines.
The head of the World Health Organization, Tedros Ghebreyesus, highlighted Gaza’s health system as teetering on the brink of collapse, with only 14 of 36 hospitals functioning, and supplies rapidly diminishing. As conditions worsen and winter approaches, he cautioned of “catastrophic health repercussions.”
Amid these dire circumstances, several Israeli human rights groups, including B’tselem, implored President Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. to leverage his influence as Israel’s key ally to alter policies and prevent further deterioration of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.