Israeli strikes on Gaza kill at least 50
Israeli strikes in Gaza have caused the deaths of at least 50 Palestinians, as the Israeli military continues its military campaign on the enclave, Middle East Eye via Al Jazeera reported on April 18th.
Air raids have targeted several areas in the enclave, such as Khan Younis and Rafah.
Previously, A Knesset member from the Likud party in Israel said he wanted to “cleanse” Gaza of Palestinians before they commit a further attack, the Middle East Eye reported on March 31st.
Earlier, on March 2nd, Israel halted all humanitarian aid from entering Gaza. As a result, 90% of Palestinians there lacked access to safe drinking water, The New Arab reported on March 11th.
The UN World Food Programme’s director in Palestine warned of food shortages affecting more than 90% of Gaza’s population.
On March 30th, Amit Halevi told Radio 103FM that “occupation is the nature of war.” “We want to occupy the territory to cleanse it of the enemy – otherwise, it will kill your children and kidnap your grandchildren again,” Halevi also said.
Regarding the subject of Israeli citizenship for Gaza Strip Palestinians, Halevi stated that their status remains undecided. He declared Israel wants “to distinguish between the status of the territory and control over it, and the status of the residents.”
Halevi added: “For many months we have only been dealing with tactics and not with defeating Hamas.” He said there was no chance of Israeli attacks on Gaza stopping.
The National reported on February 3rd that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas accused Israel of ethnic cleansing after Israeli attacks killed 70 Palestinian people.
On March 28th, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a similar remark when commenting on the crisis in Lebanon. He stated they would “continue to enforce the ceasefire with force, strike everywhere in Lebanon against any threat to the State of Israel.”
Middle East Eye
