Israeli tanks and troops in action in the assault on Gaza City . " Everything is burning here ," local sources report. IDF troops continued shelling the city and other parts of the Strip throughout the night , wounding or killing several people.
"We have begun the intensive operation: it is a crucial phase," Netanyahu announced . He clarified at a press conference: "Anyone who condemns us is a hypocrite." "We want to take control of the city because if Gaza City falls, Hamas will fall," Defense Minister Israel Katz made clear.
And while thousands of Israelis protested yesterday evening in front of the Prime Minister's residence in Jerusalem, with fears growing for the fate of the hostages after the IDF launched the operation to conquer Gaza City, yesterday over 100 people died in the Strip,
Trump remains silent, while the EU condemns and announces sanctions against Israel. The independent UN commission of inquiry declares that "genocide" is taking place in Gaza.
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EU Commission suspends bilateral support to Israel
"We are suspending bilateral support to the Israeli government. This is an important signal, confirming our policy of promoting peace. Specifically, €14 million in funds have already been allocated for the 2020-2024 period. Of this amount, €4.3 million have been contracted, while €9.4 million remain uncontracted. Until further notice, we will not proceed with the joint identification of new actions or the signing of contracts." EU Commissioner Dubravka Suica announced this, emphasizing that in this case, the EU executive was able to make an "independent" decision.
UN Commission President: "We have evidence of genocide."
To accuse Israel of genocide in Gaza, "we gathered evidence. Our commission conducted its own investigation," a process that has lasted two years. "We verified all the facts using United Nations resources: satellite imagery, digital evidence. We interviewed witnesses, doctors, for example." This was explained by Navi Pillay, the former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights who now chairs the United Nations International Commission of Inquiry responsible for the report against the Jewish state.
Hamas: "Pediatric hospital under attack."
Gaza's Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health has denounced Israel's attack on al-Rantisi Children's Hospital in Gaza City and condemned the raid, Al Jazeera reports. According to the ministry, the medical facility was hit three times in a row, but no casualties were reported.
IDF hits 50 targets overnight
The Israeli military says its air force struck about 50 targets in the Gaza Strip overnight, most of them in Gaza City, the Times of Israel reports. According to the military, a total of 140 targets have been hit in recent days.
17 dead since dawn in the Strip, 7 in Gaza City
Seventeen people, including seven in Gaza City, have been killed and others injured since dawn in ongoing Israeli bombardments of the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian news agency Wafa reported, citing medical sources.
IDF: 400,000 people have fled Gaza City so far.
Some 400,000 Palestinians have so far evacuated Gaza City to other areas of the Strip. The IDF confirmed this in an estimate reported by the Times of Israel, noting that approximately one million Palestinians lived in the city before the Israeli army began its major offensive in the area.
Israel announces second evacuation route for citizens from Gaza
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) informed residents of the Strip this morning that it has opened a second evacuation route for those wishing to flee Gaza City, as the Israeli army advances on the Palestinian enclave's main city. The route, along Sala-al-Din Street in the southern Strip, will be open from noon today until noon Friday, Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee announced in Arabic on X.
(Unioneonline)
