ป้ายกำกับ: Escalating conflict

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US Defense Secretary Urges Israel to Prioritize Civilian Protection Amid Escalating Conflict

Date: December 3, 2023

In the wake of the recent resumption of combat operations in Gaza, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has emphasized the imperative for Israel to prioritize the protection of civilians. Speaking at a forum in California on Saturday, Austin reaffirmed the United States’ unwavering support for Israel but underscored that safeguarding civilian lives is crucial for Israel’s long-term success against Hamas.

Drawing from his experience in urban warfare during the Iraq conflict and the campaign against ISIS, Austin highlighted the critical lesson that victory in such situations depends on the protection of civilians. He emphasized that if civilians are driven into the arms of the enemy, a tactical victory can quickly turn into a strategic defeat.

Austin conveyed a clear message to Israel’s leaders, stating, “I have repeatedly made clear to Israel’s leaders that protecting Palestinian civilians in Gaza is both a moral responsibility and a strategic imperative.”

The comments from Austin echo similar sentiments expressed by US Vice President Kamala Harris earlier on Saturday. Harris stated that “too many innocent Palestinians have been killed” and urged Israel to do more to protect civilians as it pursues its military objectives in Gaza.

As the conflict intensifies, the toll on Gaza’s population continues to mount. According to Dr. Ashraf Al-Qudra, a spokesperson for the Hamas-controlled health ministry in Gaza, Israeli strikes have killed at least 15,207 people and injured over 40,652 others. Alarmingly, at least 70% of those casualties are reported to be women and children.

The dire situation in Gaza is exacerbated by Israel’s blockade, causing widespread food, fuel, and drug shortages. The medical system is on the verge of collapse, leaving 2.2 million Gazans at risk of dehydration and starvation. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) estimates that 1.8 million people have been displaced in Gaza since October 7. Human rights organizations assert that Israel’s attacks on civilians, along with their forced evacuation, amount to war crimes.

In a separate development, the UK Ministry of Defence has announced plans to conduct surveillance flights over Gaza to aid in locating hostages taken by Hamas during a terror attack in southern Israel on October 7. The UK government, working with other countries, aims to secure the release of hostages, including British nationals. The surveillance flights, unarmed and solely tasked with locating hostages, will cover the Eastern Mediterranean, including Israel and Gaza. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office did not disclose the timing or frequency of these flights.

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U.S. Medical Groups Rally to Aid Gaza’s Ailing Hospitals Amidst Escalating Conflict

As Gaza’s hospitals teeter on the brink of collapse under the relentless strain of war, U.S. medical groups are urgently mobilizing to provide critical assistance. Dr. Mohammed Ghneim, an emergency room doctor at Dar Al-Shifa, the largest medical complex in Gaza, shares a grim account of the dire conditions. Stretched to the limits, Shifa is grappling with shortages of clean water, medicine, supplies, and fuel, with thousands seeking refuge from ongoing airstrikes.

Israeli forces, according to Dr. Munir Al-Bursh, director-general of the Hamas-controlled health ministry in Gaza, have surrounded Shifa, posing a severe threat to those inside. An Israeli airstrike targeting the hospital’s generator has exacerbated the crisis, leaving life-saving equipment for neonatal care without power, resulting in the tragic deaths of three infants.

The Israeli military denies claims of besieging the hospital, citing “ongoing intense fighting” against Hamas. However, medical professionals at Shifa and the militant group refute allegations of using hospitals as cover.

The scenes of desperation inside Shifa and other hospitals in Gaza have spurred international calls for a ceasefire and increased aid access. U.S. nonprofit medical groups are taking action to raise funds and send vital medical supplies to the beleaguered hospitals.

In Houston, Mosab Nasser, CEO of the nonprofit medical group FAJR Scientific and a Gaza native, is tirelessly working to raise awareness and funds. FAJR Scientific aims to fill five 40-foot containers with medical supplies and ship them to Gaza. Meanwhile, the Palestinian-American Medical Association (PAMA) has raised over $2 million to purchase critical medicines and supplies.

Despite these efforts, access to Gaza remains restricted, with only a fraction of the aid needed making its way through the Rafah border crossing. International organizations emphasize the urgency of addressing the growing humanitarian crisis and the need for more aid to meet the escalating demands.

Ahmad Muhanna, director of Al Awda Hospital in Jabalya, shares the harrowing experience of treating maimed children without adequate resources. Medical facilities are in constant danger, with Israeli airstrikes near hospitals complicating efforts to provide care.

As the conflict rages on, the death toll rises, and hospitals face unprecedented challenges. With no ceasefire in sight and borders tightly controlled, medical professionals on the ground express their frustration and helplessness, pleading for international intervention to alleviate the suffering.

U.S. medical groups, such as FAJR Scientific and PAMA, scramble to overcome logistical barriers, emphasizing the critical need for immediate action. The situation remains grim, leaving doctors and aid organizations anxiously awaiting a resolution to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.