Tunnel system also destroyed
Despite UN resolution: Israel “continues to eliminate terrorists”
December 23, 2023, 1:39 p.m
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The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip has been catastrophic for weeks and the UN Security Council passes a resolution for aid deliveries. Nevertheless, the Israeli military continues its offensive. It reports killings and arrests. Criticism of the treatment of prisoners does not apply.
Even after the UN Security Council resolution on humanitarian aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip, Israel continued its offensive in the Palestinian territory. Authorities controlled by the Islamist Hamas reported heavy shelling in several cities. The Israeli army said it had destroyed a “strategic” tunnel complex in the city of Gaza and “eliminated terrorists.” After the UN Security Council vote, Israel announced that it would stick to its actions against Hamas.
The Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health said this Saturday that 18 people were killed in an attack on a house in the Nuseirat refugee settlement in the center of the Gaza Strip. The Israeli army is continuing “heavy artillery shelling” in Gaza and Jabaliya in the north and Deir al-Bala in the center. The attacks near Rafah and Khan Yunis in the south would also continue. The Israeli military announced on Friday evening that it had “eliminated terrorists.” The army also discovered tunnels used by Hamas in the city of Gaza.
In addition, according to the army, Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip arrested more than 200 members of Palestinian terrorist organizations within a week. The Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists were brought to Israel for questioning, the military said. “Some of the actors turned themselves in voluntarily,” the army said. The information could not initially be independently verified. In total, more than 700 members of terrorist organizations have been arrested in the coastal area so far.
Footage of Palestinian prisoners in the Gaza Strip wearing only their underwear had recently sparked concerns about Israel’s arrest procedures and raised questions about possible rights violations or degrading treatment. The Israeli army said the arrests were carried out in accordance with international law. The disrobing is necessary to ensure that no one is hiding weapons or explosives.
Iran accuses Israel of genocide
Meanwhile, at a Palestine conference this Saturday, Iran again called for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza conflict. “The international community should ensure that the war and genocide in Gaza stop immediately,” said Foreign Office spokesman Nasser Kanaani, according to the Fars news agency.
According to Kanaani, the one-day Palestine conference is intended to focus more international attention on the suffering of the Palestinians and to persuade Israel and the USA to rethink the Gaza conflict. Mainly representatives of Islamic states take part in the conference.
In the terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, terrorists from Hamas and other extremist Palestinian groups killed around 1,200 people, including more than 850 civilians. They also kidnapped around 240 hostages to the Gaza Strip. Some of them were released, but around 100 people are still in the hands of the terrorists.
Israel’s military operation in the Gaza Strip is a response to this. Israel invokes its right to self-defense and the duty to protect its citizens. The Israeli government repeatedly states that its actions in the Gaza Strip only target terrorist targets and want to avoid civilian casualties. Israel’s goal is to completely destroy Hamas’ military capabilities. The army accuses Hamas of using civilians as shields and operating from protected facilities such as hospitals. According to the Hamas-run health authority, more than 20,000 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel’s military operation began. This information cannot currently be independently verified.