Israeli Massacres in Gaza Continue Amid Appeals for Blood Donations

Israeli occupation forces have now entered the 403rd consecutive day of their genocide in the Gaza Strip, marked by relentless airstrikes and artillery shelling. The brutal Israeli aggression has led to numerous massacres targeting civilians, deepening the already catastrophic humanitarian crisis in the region. The ongoing siege and mass displacement of residents has exacerbated the dire situation, leaving Gaza’s population in severe distress.

Our correspondent reported that 15 members of the Shabat family were killed in a new massacre committed by the occupation forces at dawn today in Beit Hanoun, in northern Gaza.

Amid intense shelling and gunfire, the Israeli army besieged shelter schools in Beit Hanoun. Additionally, several men were arrested at a checkpoint in eastern Jabalia after the residents of Beit Hanoun were forced to flee.

In the north as well, Israeli warplanes targeted the Abu al-Jidyan roundabout area in the Beit Lahia project, resulting in fatalities and injuries, while others remain trapped under the rubble.

In the center, three were killed and 11 others were injured, as a result of the occupation’s bombing of a house in the al-Rahma neighborhood, west of the al-Nuseirat camp, and the body of one martyr was recovered from the al-Nuwairi hill area, west of the camp.

In the south, Al Mayadeen’s correspondent reported that 16 individuals from the city of Khan Younis were killed in one night as a result of the Israeli aggression, and one person was killed as a result of Israeli artillery shelling that targeted the al-Zana area, east of the city.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health appealed to Palestinians who are able to donate blood to head to Nasser Medical Complex, due to the urgent need for blood amid their stock depletion.

Experts warn of imminent famine in Gaza 

For weeks, aid organizations and UN agencies have raised alarms about the “apocalyptic” conditions in northern Gaza, where Israeli occupation forces have been conducting intense military operations. Last Friday, a group of independent experts cautioned that “famine is highly likely to be imminent in areas within the northern Gaza Strip.”

The experts warned that “failure to demonstrate a sustained commitment to implementing and maintaining these measures could impact US policy” under a national security memorandum issued by the Biden administration, as well as US law. They pointed to Section 620i of the US Foreign Assistance Act, which requires the US to suspend security aid to governments that obstruct American humanitarian assistance.

The scorecard highlighted that “an estimated 100,000 people have been displaced from North Gaza to Gaza City, while between 75,000 and 95,000 remain trapped in North Gaza without access to medical care or food supplies.”

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller stated last week that he would not “speculate about what may or may not happen” once the 30-day period ends.

Beit Hanoun under siege

Gaza Civil Defense Spokesperson Mahmoud Bassal summed up the situation in Beit Hanoun, amid the ground invasion and the ongoing siege imposed on the north for the 40th consecutive day.

He described Beit Hanounn as a small city with around 7,500 residents and covering an area of 20 square kilometers. According to Basal, it has become a focal point for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with four key shelters providing refuge for forcibly displaced people: Mahdia Al-Shawa School, Ghazi Al-Shawa School, Al-Wakala Al-Shawa School, and the Western School. These shelters have been critical in offering temporary protection for families amid ongoing war and bombardment.

Israeli occupation forces have completely besieged the city, cutting it off from all directions, the spokesperson said, adding that earlier today, Israeli occupation forces carried out two massacres targeting the Shabat and Kafarneh families, leaving about 15 people dead, many of whom remain trapped under the rubble of their homes and in the streets.

For the first time since the siege began, three trucks carrying flour, canned goods, and water were allowed into Beit Hanoun, he said, before insinuating that they were of no use as residents were forcibly displaced from the shelters at dawn without receiving any aid.

It is worth noting that Beit Hanoun has been without civil defense services, hospitals, or ambulances for 21 consecutive days. The city has been under siege for 40 days, with “Israel” cutting off all access to food, water, and essential supplies.