The war goes on and Israel is still determined to destroy Hamas with as few civilian casualties as possible Or else, the U.S. is on top of them.
Israeli forces ramped up their operations in central Gaza on Wednesday, resulting in the deaths of at least nine Palestinians, as confirmed by the terrorist Hamas health officials. As if we can trust anything they say. Simultaneously, Israeli tanks made a brief incursion into Rafah in the south. Over the past 24 hours, Israeli strikes have claimed at least 81 lives and injured 198, according to the Gaza health ministry – which is also 100% Hamas terrorist infested. I’ll continue with what they claim, but know they lie as the norm…
Around midnight, an airstrike on a house in Al-Zawyda in central Gaza killed eight people. In Rafah, medics reported two deaths from an airstrike, while tanks raided the northern part of the city before retreating, a tactic Israeli forces have previously used before launching deeper incursions.
The IDF continues to operate in southern Gaza’s Rafah, where troops located several more tunnels and killed multiple terrorists over the past day. Israeli forces are also operating in the Netzarim Corridor in central Gaza, carrying out raids against Hamas infrastructure.
The… pic.twitter.com/ZDx9ht9kKT
— Eretz Yisrael 24 (@EretzYisrael24) July 16, 2024
The Israeli military stated that its troops were “continuing precise, intelligence-based operational activity in the Rafah area,” targeting what they called a terrorist cell and a launcher used against Israeli forces. They also claimed that airstrikes had hit 25 targets across Gaza in the past day, with ongoing operations in the central area to dismantle observation structures used by militants.
Nine months into the conflict, Terrorist Hamas-led fighters continue to resist Israeli forces, using anti-tank rockets and mortars, occasionally launching rockets into Israel. Israeli Defense Minister Gallant asserted that military operations had created conditions conducive to negotiating the return of hostages taken by Hamas during an attack on October 7, which resulted in 1,200 deaths and over 250 hostages, according to Israeli reports.
Since the conflict began, Israel claims to have eliminated half of Hamas’ military leadership and killed or captured around 14,000 fighters, approximately half of Hamas’ estimated force. Gaza health authorities report at least 38,000 Palestinian deaths from Israel’s offensive, while Israel has lost 326 soldiers.
⚡️🔻MUST WATCH: Saraya Al-Quds, a faction of Hamas, released a video showing their forces sniping an IDF terrorist in central Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip. pic.twitter.com/qe2ynGkbSo
— Raw Talk (@TalkNewz) July 17, 2024
Diplomatic efforts led by Arab mediators and supported by the United States remain stalled, though both Israel and Hamas express willingness to continue talks. The proposed deal seeks to end hostilities and secure the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.
On Wednesday, Israel released 13 Palestinians detained during the Gaza offensive, the Palestinian Red Crescent reported. Many of the hundreds of Palestinians released have accused Israeli forces of mistreatment and torture, with nearly 20 reportedly dying in custody. Israel denies these allegations.
Human Rights Watch released a 252-page report on the October 7 attack, accusing Hamas’ military wing and other Palestinian armed groups of committing “numerous war crimes and crimes against humanity.” These charges include deliberate attacks on civilians, inhumane treatment and killing of captives, sexual violence, hostage-taking, mutilation of bodies, use of human shields, and looting. The report’s findings align with a recent UN inquiry, which also concluded that both Israel and Hamas committed war crimes in the early stages of the conflict.
Hamas rejected the Human Rights Watch report as biased, demanding its withdrawal and an apology, accusing the organization of adopting an Israeli narrative.
Major Points
- Israeli forces intensified operations in Gaza, killing at least nine Palestinians and briefly advancing into Rafah.
- Over the past 24 hours, Israeli strikes have resulted in 81 Palestinian deaths and 198 injuries.
- The conflict, now nine months in, sees ongoing resistance from Hamas fighters.
- Diplomatic efforts are stalled, but both sides remain open to talks.
- Human Rights Watch accused both Hamas and Israeli forces of war crimes.
James Kravitz – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
