A series of Israeli attacks in central Gaza resulted in the deaths of numerous Palestinians, including many civilians, as a special forces mission was carried out to rescue four hostages. The high number of casualties sparked international condemnation.
According to Gaza’s health ministry, at least 274 Palestinians lost their lives and 698 were injured in the strikes on the Nuseirat refugee camp. The Israeli military stated that their forces faced heavy gunfire during the operation.
The EU’s chief diplomat, Josep Borrell, labeled the events of Saturday as a “massacre”, while the UN’s aid chief vividly described the horrific scenes of devastation with “shredded bodies on the ground”.
Martin Griffiths, in a plea for peace and the release of hostages, highlighted the immense suffering endured by civilians in Gaza, particularly in the Nuseirat refugee camp.
The bodies of 109 Palestinians, including children and women, were transported to the al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital in Deir al-Balah. Additionally, over 100 wounded individuals were treated at the hospital, as reported by spokesperson Khalil Degran.
Reports indicated that more than 100 casualties from the Israeli attacks were taken to al-Awda hospital, with a total of 210 victims. The exact numbers were corroborated by the Hamas media office but remained unverified.
The intensity of the bombings and shelling in central Gaza persisted, resulting in further casualties. Tanks were also deployed into Rafah, Gaza’s southern city, escalating tensions in the region.
The rescue operation in Nuseirat marked Israel’s largest mission of its kind during the conflict, successfully freeing the four hostages. The hostages, who were in good health, were reunited with their families following medical evaluations.
The complex nature of hostage situations in densely populated areas posed significant challenges for rescue operations, as seen in previous incidents. While Israelis rejoiced at the return of the hostages, Palestinians grieved for the lives lost and cared for the injured.
The bombing of Nuseirat’s market area added to the chaos and destruction, leaving residents in a state of panic and devastation. The harrowing accounts of the ordeal painted a grim picture of the situation on the ground.
2024-06-09 11:38:38
Source from www.theguardian.com