Israel escalates onslaught, imposes total blockade of Gaza
Authorities believe the Gaza Strip might face a fresh humanitarian crisis if supplies are not allowed in as Israel responds to Hamas attacks.
Israel launched a “complete siege” on the region yesterday, cutting off electricity, food, gasoline, and water.
Residents claim that aid has not arrived in the area since Saturday. Following Israeli bombings, abandoned streets are littered with rubble from destroyed buildings, according to BBC footage.
Retaliatory acts have killed almost 500 individuals.
Gaza is home to around 2.3 million people, 80% of whom rely on humanitarian aid due to continual confrontations with Israel.
Yesterday, Israel’s Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant, said it would impose a “complete siege” on the territory.
“No electricity, no food, no water, no gas – it’s all closed,” he said, adding that “we are fighting animals and are acting accordingly.”
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The Israeli Infrastructure Minister later ordered the immediate cut-off of water supplies to Gaza, saying: “What was in the past will no longer be in the future.”
If Israel attacks people in Gaza without notice, the al Qassam Brigade, Hamas’ military wing, stated civilian hostages would be slaughtered and the deaths would be aired.
“We declare that we will respond to any targeting of our people who are safe in their homes without warning, with the execution of our civilian hostages, and we will broadcast it with audio and video,” Abu Obaida said in a statement posted to al Qassam Brigades’ Telegram channel Monday.
Hamas claims it is holding more than 100 hostages, including Israeli army officers.
Secretary of the US Army, Christine Wormuth yesterday said additional funding from Congress would be needed for the Defense Department to provide munitions to Israel while the US continues to support Ukraine in its war with Russia.
“To be able to increase our capacity… to expand production, and then to also pay for the munitions themselves, we need additional support from Congress,” Wormuth said during a panel discussion at the annual meeting of the Association of the United States Army.
Biden administration officials have said they’re unclear about what Congress could pass in terms of support for Israel without a sitting Speaker of the House.
