Israel does not protect the disabled in Gaza, but creates them

Israeli airstrikes in Gaza claimed the lives of at least 40 Palestinians across different parts of the Gaza Strip on Saturday. In the southwest, tanks targeted displaced civilians in designated safe zones. Additionally, ground operations in Al Mawasi neighborhood resulted in widespread destruction and casualties. (screengrab)

10,000 more disabled people in Gaza than before war, as death and destruction continue; Israel threatens to destroy Iran; report: Israeli army not ready for a war in Lebanon; Canada is “antisemitic”; national uncommitted movement demands that Biden change course on Gaza; Amal Clooney “is the one that needs to be prosecuted,” not Netanyahu; more.

By IAK staff, from reports.

Israeli attacks leave 10,000 disabled in Gaza, NGO reports:

WAFA reports: The Palestinian NGO’s Network Rehabilitation Sector has said an estimated 10,000 individuals have acquired various disabilities due to Israeli attacks since October 7th.

In addition, hundreds of persons with disabilities have been killed, and thousands more injured as a result of the Israeli onslaught. The crisis has forced tens of thousands of disabled individuals to flee, exposing them to harsh displacement conditions and severe psychological trauma, the group revealed.

Israel’s destruction of infrastructure, roads, and rehabilitation centers, have severely restricted the movement and access to services for persons with disabilities.

Displaced individuals with disabilities face immense difficulties in overcrowded and ill-equipped shelters lacking basic amenities, exacerbating their struggle to access humanitarian aid, sanitation facilities, and other essential needs. Persons with disabilities are particularly vulnerable to malnutrition and chronic illnesses, significantly increasing their risk of mortality.

NOTE: Israel is a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which requires parties to “take all necessary measures to ensure the protection and safety of people with disability in armed conflict.” But Israeli evacuation orders have not taken their needs into account. Israeli authorities are not taking minimum measures. Rather than protecting disabled persons, Israel’s bombardment has maimed thousands more.

About 50,000 Palestinians with disabilities are among the most vulnerable people in Gaza, as Israel’s total siege has left them without necessary assistance and the continuous bombardment has made getting to shelter impossible for many. (screengrab)

Some of the Saturday deaths in Gaza:

Israeli forces targeted a group of Palestinians in Gaza City trying to fill water containers at a distribution point. Four Palestinians from the same family, the al-Ghazi family, were killed in this shelling. Among them was a child.
At least four Palestinians were killed after a residence was targeted in the Bureij refugee camp. Bureij has been a center for evacuees who fled Rafah.
At least 40 Palestinians were killed in 24 hours, and more than 220 others wounded.
Another five Palestinians were killed in an Israeli bombing targeting the municipal park in central Gaza City.

Massive apocalyptic destruction is unfolding in the Mawasi area, north west of Rafah in Gaza, after the temporary withdrawal of israeli tanks pic.twitter.com/8wWuuqlp1C

— Sarah Wilkinson (@swilkinsonbc) June 29, 2024

Man returned to Gaza with life-threatening injuries after Israeli detention, family says – video:

A Palestinian man, who has a mental health condition, went missing for a month and has returned to his family in Gaza with life-threatening injuries. His family says he was detained by Israeli forces in Rafah and subsequently handed over to the Red Cross.

Doctors have stated that he urgently needs treatment outside of Gaza to survive.

CAUTION: Viewers may find images in this report disturbing.

Israeli foreign minister issues threat to Iran:

Israel’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Israel Katz has responded to what he said was a threat by Iran to destroy Israel if it attacks Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Iran’s mission to the UN had warned Israel that it would face an “obliterating war” if it launches a full-scale attack against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Katz said in a post on X, “My response to Iran is clear: If Hezbollah does not cease its fire and withdraw from southern Lebanon, we will act against it with full force until security is restored and residents can return to their homes.”

“A regime that threatens destruction deserves to be destroyed,” Katz added.

(Ironically, leaders of the Israeli regime have themselves threatened to destroy Gaza. For example, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant: “Gaza won’t return to what it was before. We will eliminate everything… we will reach all places.” Israeli army reservist Ezra Yachin: “Be triumphant and finish them off, and don’t leave anyone behind. Erase the memory of them. Erase them, their families, mothers and children.”

Israel has targeted Iran for decades.)

Weary Israeli army ‘not ready’ for war in Lebanon – Report:

The Cradle reports: Israeli journalist Alon Ben David on 28 June reported that the losses suffered by the Israeli army in Gaza have significantly diminished its capabilities to wage war on multiple fronts and that the forces are “not currently ready for a broad campaign in Lebanon.”

According to David’s report on Hebrew Maariv, more than 500 armored vehicles have been damaged by the Palestinian resistance in Gaza over the past nine months, and the Israeli army has consumed a much larger volume of ammunition than estimated in all of its war plans.

David claims that the depletion of Israel’s arsenal is one of the reasons why Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently accused the US of “withholding” arms shipments, using this as “an excuse … for the reason that he does not initiate a campaign in Lebanon.”

Furthermore, Israeli troops have been widely affected by the long campaign of genocide in Gaza, as all operational plans from 7 October “were for a war of a few weeks.” David reveals that at least 666 Israeli soldiers have been killed, nearly 4,000 have been injured, and over 11,000 “required mental treatment since the beginning of the war.”

“They are still motivated, fully understand the importance of the goal, but they are tired, physically and mentally … If we call them to occupy southern Lebanon – they will be there, but they will not be at their best,” the Israeli journalist writes.

NOTE: Tens of thousands of Israeli soldiers have struggled with mental health issues since October 7th. Many have begun to refuse to serve for ethical reasons – deeply disturbed by the number of civilian deaths and unconscionable destruction, without making apparent progress toward rescuing prisoners or defeating Hamas.

In one example of wanton destruction of Gaza, an Israeli soldier records himself blowing up a mosque. (screengrab)

Israel’s Ben-Gvir says Canada is ‘antisemitic’ following sanctions on ‘extremist’ settlers:

Times of Israel reports: Canada announced this week sanctions against seven Israeli individuals and five organizations for “their violent and destabilizing actions against Palestinian civilians and their property in the West Bank.”

National Security Minister, extremist Itamar Ben-Gvir, responded by tweeting, “Several Zionist movements that have been engaged in the holy work of building our country for many years continue to receive sanctions from many countries due to political decisions.”

The “holy work” he refers to is what Amnesty International has called: “Israel’s relentless land grab and settlement expansion, both serious violations of international humanitarian law.”

Ben-Gvir continued, “Today’s decision by the Canadian government to join the ranks of countries that have decided to harass settlers in Judea and Samaria [referring to the Palestinian West Bank by its Israeli names] is a clear antisemitic decision,” he said,

The organizations being sanctioned are the Amana association, which lobbies for, develops and builds West Bank settlements and outposts; Lehava, which opposes intermarriage and the assimilation of Jews with Arabs and tries to stifle public activities by non-Jews in Israel; The Hilltop Youth, an assortment of usually young Israelis who build illegal outposts throughout the West Bank; Moshe’s Farm, also known as Tirza Valley outpost, which was established in January 2021; and Zvi’s Farm, near the Halamish settlement.

The United States, France, the UK and Canada have all announced sanctions against Israeli settlers.

NOTE: Actual antisemitism is not as prevalent as Israel partisans would like us to think. While in this case, Canada is merely choosing to sanction violent groups of settlers who happen to be Jewish, a large portion of what some call antisemitism is simply criticism of Israel, the self-proclaimed “Jewish State.” Most of the animosity Israel experiences is opposition to Zionism. Zionism is not a benign philosophy, but a racist ideology – the ideology under which Israel dispossessed 750,000 Palestinian people and exiled them to Gaza and other locations. The so-called “demonization” of Israel is in most cases a legitimate criticism of Israel’s policies of occupation, apartheid, and genocide, and other illegal practices.

One settler attack on Palestinian property in the Occupied West Bank, in which they set a building on fire. These attacks have increased sharply since Israel launched its war on Gaza. Many doubt that sanctions on perpetrators of the violence will do much to hold them to account.

National ‘uncommitted’ movement has a message to Biden: Change course on Gaza:

Middle East Eye reports: The “Uncommitted National Movement”, which has been critical of the US president’s handling of the war in Gaza and has urged voters to cast “uncommitted” ballots in state primaries, has called on Biden to use his leverage to bring about a ceasefire in the besieged coastal enclave.

The coalition said in a statement: “If you want us to mobilize the 700,000 Democratic primary voters who cast uncommitted ballots toward your re-election, you must ensure a permanent ceasefire by imposing an arms embargo and not sending another US weapon for Israel’s war and occupation.”

“The battle for the soul of our nation demands Biden to change course – not another bomb.”

The uncommitted campaigns won 29 delegates in several states to send to the Democratic National Convention, which will be held in Chicago in August.

…war and occupation against Palestinians. We remain open to supporting an open convention if that becomes viable. But right now, American bombs are still dropping on civilians in Gaza and Biden is the current President with the immediate power to stop this.

— Uncommitted National Movement 🌺 (@uncommittedmvmt) June 29, 2024

Israel’s campaign against Amal and George Clooney:

Middle East Monitor reports: An Israeli organization began a campaign in the US against prominent human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin Clooney, accusing her of playing: “A decisive role in the International Criminal Court (ICC)’s decision to issue an arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.”

Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported on its English website that an Israeli organization representing the Israeli victims of 7 October called for her to be investigated and tried and also launched a campaign against her husband, actor George Clooney.

The newspaper noted: “As part of her duties, Clooney participated in the advisory forum for the ICC and supported the issuance of arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar and Mohammed Deif.”

According to the newspaper: “Israeli civil rights Shurat HaDin, representing hundreds of victims of the 7 October terrorist attacks, has appealed to US Attorney General Merrick Garland, demanding an investigation into Clooney for violating the federal American Service-Members’ Protection Act, known informally as The Hague Invasion Act.”

“The organization claims that Clooney’s participation in the ICC’s investigative actions against Netanyahu for war crimes, while she was on US soil, constitutes a felony under US law,” it added.

Shurat HaDin President Nitsana Darshan-Leitner said, “If Amal Clooney participated in the ICC panel investigating Prime Minister Netanyahu while residing in the US then she is the one that needs to be prosecuted. She seems to be passionate about international law but pretty contemptuous of American regulations. George Clooney’s efforts to intervene and interfere with White House policy on behalf of his wife while raising funds for Biden’s campaign is troubling and suspicious.”

Save the Children, in a new statement, said 21,000 children are missing, some separated from their families, some buried under the rubble, their fate unknown. The advocacy group calls for a ceasefire to look for the missing children. Israel's abuses saw it added to the UN's global blacklist of countries that harm children. — Save the Children, in a recent statement, said 21,000 children are missing, some separated from their families, some buried under the rubble, their fate unknown. The advocacy group calls for a ceasefire to look for the missing children. Israel’s abuses saw it added to the UN’s global blacklist of countries that harm children. (screenshot)

MORE NEWS:

IMEMC Daily Reports.

The Cradle: If the war expands, will western facilities become the new target banks?

Mondoweiss: The second invasion of al-Shuja’iyya is a war of attrition.

STATISTICS OCTOBER 7 – JUNE 29:

Palestinian death toll from October 7 – June 29: at least 38,429* (37,877 in Gaza* – 11,445 women (30%), 15,747 children as of June 17.

This is expected to be a significant undercount since thousands of those killed have yet to be identified – and at least 552 in the West Bank (~134 children). This does not include an estimated 10,000 more still buried under rubble (4,900 women and children). Euro-Med Monitor reports 45,223 Palestinian deaths. (Ralph Nader has estimated 200,000 Palestinians may have been killed in Gaza.)

At least 45 Palestinians have died in Israeli prisons (27 from Gaza, 18 from West Bank).
At least 40 Palestinians have died due to malnutrition**.
About 1.7 million, or 75% of Gaza’s population are currently displaced.
2.15 million (out of total population of 2.3 million) are projected to face Crisis or worse levels of food insecurity.

Palestinian injuries from October 7 – June 29: at least 92,339 (including at least 86,969 in Gaza and 5,370 in the West Bank, including 830 children).

[It remains unknown how many Americans are among the casualties in Gaza.]

Reported Israeli death toll from October 7 – June 29: ~1,473 (~1,139 on October 7, 2023, of which ~32 were Americans, and ~36 were children); 318 military forces since the ground invasion began in Gaza; 16 in the West Bank) and~8,730 injured.

Times of Israel reports: The IDF listed 41 soldiers killed due to friendly fire in Gaza and other military-related accidents – nearly 16%.

NOTE: It is unknown at this time how many of the deaths and injuries in Israel on October 7 were caused by Israeli soldiers.

*Previously, IAK did not include 471 Gazans killed in the Al Ahli hospital blast since the source of the projectile was being disputed. However, given that much evidence points to Israel as the culprit, Israel had previously bombed the hospital and has attacked many others, Israel is prohibiting outside experts from investigating the scene, and since the UN and other agencies are including the deaths from the attack in their cumulative totals, if Americans knew is now also doing so.**

Euro-Med Monitor reports that Gaza’s elderly are dying at an alarmingly high rate. The majority die at home and are buried either close to their residences or in makeshift graves dispersed across the Strip. There are currently more than 140 such cemeteries. Additionally, according to Euromed, thousands have died from starvation, malnourishment, and inadequate medical care; these are considered indirect victims as they were not registered in hospitals.

† For most of the conflict, women and children accounted for about 70% of deaths in Gaza, with children making up a little over 40% of those killed, according to official statistics.

Find previous daily casualty figures and daily news updates here.

Hover over each bar for exact numbers.
Source: IsraelPalestineTimeline.org

Israel does not protect the disabled in Gaza, but creates them – Day 267