UN 'alarmed' by ongoing Israeli attacks in Gaza

WASHINGTON

A UN official on Friday voiced concern over the ongoing Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip.

"We are alarmed by ongoing attacks across the Strip that have left scores of Palestinians dead," spokeswoman Stephanie Tremblay told reporters.

Earlier on Friday, a medical source from Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza told Anadolu that the Israeli army set fire to several hospital sections.

Tremblay said an airstrike near Kamal Adwan Hospital in North Gaza governorate on Thursday night is said to have killed dozens of people, including health workers.

"In Kamal Adwan hospital today, staff, patients and their companions were forced out of the facility. Arrests and significant damage to the hospital have been reported," she added.

The official underlined that the UN teams continue to face "systematic denials" of humanitarian access to North Gaza.

"Just today, another attempt by the UN to reach besieged parts of North Gaza governorate was denied by the Israeli authorities," she added.

Turning to the occupied West Bank, Tremblay said as of Dec. 26, Israeli forces had killed 20 Palestinians over a 10-day period, including at least 12 deaths due to airstrikes.

"Our humanitarian colleagues say Israel’s military operation in Tulkarm’s refugee camp caused extensive damage to infrastructure.

"Lethal, war-like tactics are being applied repeatedly during these operations in the West Bank, raising concerns over use of force that exceeds law enforcement standards," she added.

According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), she said, as of Dec. 24, a total of 4,706 Palestinians have been displaced across the West Bank this year, including 1,949 children.

Israel launched a large-scale ground offensive in northern Gaza on Oct. 5 to allegedly prevent the Palestinian group Hamas from regrouping. Palestinians, however, accuse Israel of seeking to occupy the area and forcibly displace its residents.

Since then, no sufficient humanitarian aid including food, medicine and fuel has been allowed into the area, leaving the remaining population on the verge of imminent famine.

Overall, Israel has killed more than 45,400 people in Gaza since an Oct. 7, 2023 cross-border attack by Hamas, reducing the enclave to rubble.

Last month, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.