Hardship worsens for displaced Palestinian families in soggy tent camps as the rain in Gaza intensifies; Israel declares intent to continue the war with or without international support, despite UN call for immediate ceasefire and Biden’s warning.
On Wednesday, Israel’s foreign minister declared the intention to persist in the military campaign against Hamas, irrespective of international support. He further asserted that agreeing to a ceasefire in Gaza would be an error on their part.
Meanwhile, in the UN General Assembly, India finally sided with a draft resolution, with 80% of the world advocating for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas on humanitarian grounds.
As the resolution for the Gaza ceasefire garnered intense support, US President Joe Biden also warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of losing all international support over the military strategy and random bombing of Gaza.
These developments added to the hardship for war-displaced Palestinian families taking refuge in makeshift tents. Their challenges intensified as winter rain poured and flooded the tents, and the fear of the war not stopping heightened concerns about being sent to Egypt.
The Israeli Side Sums Up the War So Far
Source: Goulburn Post
The Israeli military provided an update on the war, reporting the loss of 115 soldiers in the ongoing military operation against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
In particular, Tuesday marked the deadliest day since the attack commenced on October 27, with the loss of 10 soldiers’ lives.
According to the official statement, the majority of these casualties occurred in a single intense battle in Shejaiya, including 2 senior officers from the Israeli military.
Hamas Has Its Say Too
The Hamas chief, Ismail Haniyeh, expressed that they are open to talks; however, his side’s involvement in any post-war Gaza plan must be certain. Anything other than its involvement is considered a delusion.
The willingness for talks is rooted in the hope that it could positively lead to a political resolution securing the right of the Palestinian people to have their independent state, with Jerusalem as its capital, he further added.
The Palestinian militant group, Hamas, responded following the Israeli prime Minister’s determined statement that he doesn’t intend to support any kind of entry for those who support terrorism and financial terrorism.
Growing Misery In Gaza As The Winter Rain Intensifies And Floods The Makeshift Tents
Source: Reuters
Amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza, Wednesday night welcomed the Gaza refugees staying in makeshift arrangements with severe weather conditions and intensified rain. Strong winds and heavy rain resulted in flooding poorly protected tents where Palestinian families were staying, leaving clothes and blankets soaked and everyone exposed to the cold, intensifying their misery.
At a tent in Rafah, situated on sandy terrain littered with debris, residents faced the aftermath of a distressing night. They struggled to cover puddles both inside and outside the tents using sand while trying to dry soggy clothes. The challenging conditions show the quality of shelters for the refugees. Some families have proper tents, while others are adjusting with tarpaulins or thin, see-through plastic designed to protect goods and lack ground sheets.
Rafah, positioned at the southernmost part of the Gaza Strip near the border with Egypt, has seen an increase in arrivals as people seek refuge from the intense fighting between Israel and Hamas, extending from the north to the south. The plea from these people is a desperate call to the world to intervene and bring an end to the hostilities. Anxiety grows over the prospect of displacement to Egypt, expressing their collective desire to remain in Gaza and avoid further displacement.
