On the Ground
Day 191 of Israel's Genocidal Assault on Gaza
April 14 marks the 191st day of Israel's genocidal assault on Gaza that began on October 7, 2023. In just over six months, at least 34,194 Palestinians have been slaughtered and more than 76,371 injured with thousands more missing and presumed dead under the rubble. At least 9,500 women have been slaughtered and more than 14,500 children have been slaughtered and 17,000 are currently unaccompanied or separated from their parents. Of the children injured, 1,000 have lost one or both of their legs. Out of Gaza's total population of 2.3 million people, 1.9 million Palestinians have been internally displaced (83 per cent).
Sixty-two per cent of all homes in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed, there has been $18.5 billion in damage to public infrastructure, and 26 million tonnes of debris have been left by the destruction. Eighty per cent of commercial facilities have been destroyed. Eighty per cent of school buildings have been destroyed. Out of the 35 hospitals in Gaza before Israel began its genocidal assault, only 11 remain partially functioning.
Nearly the whole population faces starvation, with the situation especially bad in the north. Lack of fresh water is also a serious problem, with 83 per cent of groundwater wells rendered inoperable.
As of the end of the holy month of Ramadan, 267 places of worship have been destroyed.
In the West Bank, Israel has slaughtered at least 465 people, including more than 118 children. It has injured more than 4,750 people there.
On April 7, Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner General of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees stated on Instagram:
"No words can do justice to the horrors that people in Gaza are living in since the war began six months ago.
"The lives of 2 million people were turned upside down, often overnight. Many lost the most precious: their loved ones. Everything is in short supply except for grieving hearts.
"This war broke all the superlatives with the highest number of children killed, aid workers, journalists and medical teams and unprecedented attacks and destruction of hospitals and United Nations buildings in blatant disregard of International Humanitarian Law.
"All lines -- including the red lines -- were crossed. This war is made far worse through technologies misused by humans to harm other humans; en masse.
"It is made worse by the famine born from an Israeli imposed siege, one would think it's from a different era. As a result, a man-made famine is eating up bodies of babies and young children.
"Meanwhile, attacks continue against UNRWA, the largest humanitarian organization, with the aim to dismantle it and deny the refugee status to millions of Palestinians.
"Amid political debates and failed diplomacy, between well-polished talking points and statements, the hellhole in Gaza is deepening by the day.
"The calls are very clear:
- Civilians -- wherever they are -- must be protected. Every civilian life lost is a tragedy.
- All hostages in Gaza must be released.
- A ceasefire must be implemented now.
- Israel must open more land crossings and lift all restrictions on the work of UNRWA without further delay.
"This is now a race against time to restore our humanity."
This article was published in
Volume 54 Number 26 - April 15, 2024
Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/Tmlm2024/Articles/MS54264.HTM
Website: www.cpcml.ca Email: editor@cpcml.ca