Illegal Jewish settlers escorted by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank. (Photo: via WAFA)

By Palestine Chronicle Staff  

Illegal settlers blocked late Wednesday an agricultural road with earth mounds in the town of Qusra, south of Nablus.

Illegal Jewish settlers carried out their violent attacks on Wednesday often under the protection of the Israeli occupation army against Palestinians and their properties in various parts of the occupied West Bank.

The official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that illegal settlers blocked late Wednesday an agricultural road with earth mounds in the town of Qusra, south of Nablus.

Hani Adel, the head of the Qusra Municipal Council, was quoted by WAFA as saying that the illegal Jewish settlers  “closed an agricultural road last night with earth mounds leading to olive groves in the eastern part of the town,” stressing that this will have important consequences on the olive harvesting season.

In Beit Furik, east of Nablus, illegal Jewish settlers stormed a mosque near the town, WAFA said.

Palestinian youth confront Israeli occupation forces during their raid on Beit Furik, east of Nablus. pic.twitter.com/BfTKqqzwYE

— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) October 6, 2024

“Illegal settlers attacked the only mosque in the small village of Khirbet Tana, smashing solar panels and furniture inside, wreaking havoc,” WAFA added, stressing that the village is “repeatedly subjected to such assaults.”

In parallel, in the town of Deir Dibwan, east of Ramallah, Jewish illegal settlers attacked Wednesday evening a Palestinian man and took hold of his car, according to security sources quoted by WAFA.

The same sources indicated that the illegal settlers “set up a roadblock on the outskirts of the town, assaulted a villager of Burqa who was driving nearby and seized his vehicle.”

In the nearby Bethlehem, illegal Jewish settlers attacked Palestinian houses in the Khalayel al-Louz, southeast of the city in the occupied West Bank.

Jewish settler groups in the Israeli-occupied West Bank are using former army officers to train the illegal squatters in combat and guerrilla warfare tactics. All settlers are trained, men, women, and even kids. They're like the bad guys in The Purge. pic.twitter.com/08G84LEEdy

— Sharmine Narwani (@snarwani) October 10, 2024

Israeli wall and settler-colonialism specialist, Hassan Breijah, told WAFA that several illegal settlers under the protection of the Israeli army “attacked houses belonging to the Abu Kamel family, simultaneously while firing barrages of gunfire as well as teargas and concussion bombs.”

The Israeli occupation army took part in chasing Palestinians and their vehicles in the area.

Illegal Settler Violence

Illegal Jewish settlers have intensified their attacks in various parts of the occupied West Bank since the start of the genocide on the Gaza Strip in 2023.

The illegal settlers’ violence has been widely condemned by various United Nations agencies and international organizations and a number of Western countries including the United States and Canada have sanctioned a number of settlers and settlers’ organizations.

The violence of illegal settlers includes but is not limited to attacks and killing of Palestinian civilians and farmers, setting lands and properties on fire irrespective of the presence of Palestinians, desecrating holy places, and uprooting crops and olive trees. 

More than 700,000 Jewish illegal settlers live in settlements across the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem in violation of international law.

(WAFA, PC)

Israel killed scores of Palestinians in Deir Al-Balah. (Photo: via WAFA)

By Palestine Chronicle Staff  

Medical sources cited by the official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that 28 people died in the strike on the Rafidah School.

At least 28 civilians, including women and children, were killed, and many others severely injured, on Thursday in an Israeli airstrike that targeted a school housing displaced families in Deir Al-Balah.

Medical sources cited by the official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that 28 people died in the strike on the Rafidah School, a temporary shelter for those fleeing from conflict-ridden areas. 

The attack left several victims in critical condition, amplifying concerns over the lack of medical resources to treat the wounded.

The violence extended across other parts of the Gaza Strip where at least 70 Palestinians were killed in the last 24 hours.

 In the Saftawi area, north of Gaza City, a separate Israeli airstrike killed one civilian and injured others. 

? Palestine Red Crescent teams responded to 27 fatalities and 54 injuries following the Israeli occupation army’s targeting of Rafida School, located near the Palestine Red Crescent Society headquarters in Deir Al-Balah, in central #Gaza. pic.twitter.com/QrsnxOfHHi

— PRCS (@PalestineRCS) October 10, 2024

Al Jazeera reported that four Palestinians lost their lives in an additional Israeli raid on a house in the Al-Fakhari area, east of Khan Yunis in southern Gaza. 

This region has seen increased targeting by Israeli forces as part of the ongoing military escalation.

Further tragedies unfolded in Khan Yunis, where an airstrike on a civilian car near the Bani Suhaila roundabout claimed the lives of seven Palestinians on Wednesday.

Israeli artillery also shelled the Abu Mahadi area, west of Nuseirat camp, worsening the humanitarian situation in the central part of the Gaza Strip.

In northern Gaza, the Jabaliya camp remains under siege for the sixth consecutive day. 

Israeli forces have fortified their positions and deployed additional military reinforcements, while drone attacks on displaced Palestinians attempting to flee the violence have resulted in further deaths and injuries. The camp has been cut off from basic supplies, and Israeli airstrikes continue to destroy homes and infrastructure.

GAZA GOVERNMENT MEDIA OFFICE: 22 Palestinians were killed in the Israeli bombing that targeted the Rafidah School in the city of Deir al-Balah. pic.twitter.com/26g8rFussn

— The Palestine Chronicle (@PalestineChron) October 10, 2024

Under Siege

Reports from the Civil Defense in Gaza confirm that northern Gaza has been completely isolated from the rest of the Strip, with the entry of essential goods blocked by Israeli forces since Sunday. 

The continuous and heavy bombardment has left dozens of bodies lying in the streets, as ambulances and civil defense workers are being deliberately targeted, preventing them from retrieving the dead or rescuing the injured. 

The destruction of critical infrastructure, including roads and bridges, has made it nearly impossible for medical teams to reach affected areas. 

Northern Gaza under Siege – Israel Issues Fresh Evacuation Orders for Three Hospitals

Gaza’s already fragile healthcare system is on the brink of collapse, with hospitals in the northern region particularly strained, facing power outages and supply shortages. The forced evacuation of hospitals could trigger a complete breakdown of the medical response.

The government media office in Gaza issued a stark warning, calling on the international community and humanitarian organizations to intervene and halt what it described as a campaign of genocide and ethnic cleansing in northern Gaza. 

Over 125 Palestinians have been killed in the northern governorate in just five days, primarily in the Jabaliya camp, where Israeli airstrikes have devastated entire neighborhoods. Many bodies remain in the open, unreachable due to the ongoing bombardments.

Resistance Fights Back

On the military front, Palestinian resistance groups continue to respond to the Israeli offensive.

 The Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, released footage of an ambush in which they destroyed an Israeli Merkava 4 tank near the Saftawi junction, west of Jabalia camp. 

The Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of Islamic Jihad, reported the successful sniper targeting of an Israeli soldier in the Al-Tawam area, northwest of Gaza City. 

Hudhud Episode 3 – Resistance Roundup – Day 369

They also claimed responsibility for shooting down three Israeli drones conducting intelligence missions over Khan Yunis.

Ongoing Genocide

Flouting a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire, Israel has faced international condemnation amid its continued brutal offensive on Gaza. 

Currently on trial before the International Court of Justice for genocide against Palestinians, Israel has been waging a devastating war on Gaza since October 7. 

 According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, 42,010 Palestinians have been killed, and 97,720 wounded in Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza starting on October 7, 2023.

Moreover, at least 11,000 people are unaccounted for, presumed dead under the rubble of their homes throughout the Strip. 

Israel says that 1,200 soldiers and civilians were killed during the Al-Aqsa Flood Operation on October 7. Israeli media published reports suggesting that many Israelis were killed on that day by ‘friendly fire’. 

Children Shot in the Head – US Doctors Reveal Horrifying Accounts to NYT

Palestinian and international organizations say that the majority of those killed and wounded are women and children.

The Israeli war has resulted in an acute famine, mostly in northern Gaza, resulting in the death of many Palestinians, mostly children. 

The Israeli aggression has also resulted in the forceful displacement of nearly two million people from all over the Gaza Strip, with the vast majority of the displaced forced into the densely crowded southern city of Rafah near the border with Egypt – in what has become Palestine’s largest mass exodus since the 1948 Nakba.

Later in the war, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians began moving from the south to central Gaza in a constant search for safety.

(PC, AJA)

The relentless Israeli genocide in Gaza resulted in the death and wounding of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, mostly children and women. (Photo: via Eye on Palestine)

By Palestine Chronicle Staff  

57 Healthcare workers gave distressing testimonies of children shot in the head by Israeli occupation forces labeling it as a pattern.

American doctors revealed to the New York Times horrifying accounts of Palestinian children being shot in the head by the Israeli occupation forces in Gaza following visits to the besieged Strip, stressing a pattern they witnessed while operating on these children, Al-Mayadeen reported.

Trauma and general surgeon, Dr. Feroze Sidhwa, was one of those physicians who gave their accounts. Sidhwa who was in Khan Yunis for two weeks in March and April said that he was astounded to find out that other physicians were witness to children being shot in the head or chest by Israel’s war machinery.   

Sidhwa upon his return to the US recalls speaking to another doctor and telling him that: “I couldn’t believe the number of kids I saw shot in the head.”

‘Ironclad Commitment to Israel’s Security’ – Biden Reiterates US’ Support to Netanyahu

To his surprise, the physician he spoke with confirmed the matter by saying: “Yeah, me too, every single day.”

The American physician collected the testimonies of 65 other healthcare workers on their experience in Gaza, 44 of whom reported witnessing cases of children shot in the head or chest and 57 of the 65 physicians he spoke with decided to go on record, Al-Mayadeen said.

On his own experience, Sidhwa revealed that “nearly every day I was there, I saw a new young child who had been shot in the head or chest, virtually all of whom went on to die. Thirteen in total.”

He attributed this to a number of Israeli occupation forces being stationed at proximity to where he worked in Gaza.

Further Horrifying Accounts

Bariatric and foregut surgeon, Dr. Mohamad Rassoul Abu-Nuwar, was amongst those who went on record.

He revealed that within four hours spent in the emergency department, he witnessed “six children between the ages of 5 and 12, all with single gunshot wounds to the skull,” Al-Mayadeen stated.

Work for Peace – UN Special Rapporteur Urges World Leaders to Move beyond Hypocrisy

Plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Irfan Galaria also gave his testimony to the New York Times (NYT).

“Our team cared for about four or five children, ages 5 to 8 years old, that were all shot with single shots to the head. They all presented to the emergency room at the same time. They all died,” Galaria told the NYT.

Dr. Ndal Farah, an anesthesiologist, revealed that many of the children who were shot had “non-curable, permanent brain damage,” emphasizing that this was “a near-daily occurrence,” Al-Mayadeen said.

Born to Die

According to the NYT report over 20 healthcare workers reported “seeing healthy infants delivered only to die in the hospital due to dehydration, hunger, or illness,” Al-Mayadeen said.

Nearly all of the accounts of the healthcare workers emphasized that Palestinians in Gaza were malnourished.

Nurse Merril Tydings was quoted as saying that “these people were starving.”

Tydings revealed that they abstained from eating or drinking in front of Palestinian healthcare workers who were for days deprived from food or drink.

Psychiatric Distress

According to the collected accounts, the one-year-old genocide in Gaza and the horrifying living conditions in the enclave during this war have resulted in “psychiatric distress” among Palestinian children.

Northern Gaza under Siege – Israel Issues Fresh Evacuation Orders for Three Hospitals

52 healthcare workers who gave their testimonies “observed nearly universal psychiatric distress in young children, and saw some who were suicidal or said they wished they had died,” Al-Mayadeen reported.

Pediatric critical care doctor Tanya Haj-Hassan spoke of one child, who lost his entire family, saying: “Everyone I love is in heaven. I don’t want to be here anymore.”

Stop Arming Israel

Sidhwa insisted that the United States should stop arming Israel accusing both of “turning Gaza into a howling wilderness.”

Sidhwa wrote: “The horror must end. The United States must stop arming Israel.”

He added that as this happens, “we Americans need to take a long, hard look at ourselves.”

Gaza Genocide Continues

Flouting a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire, Israel has faced international condemnation amid its continued brutal offensive on Gaza.

Currently on trial before the International Court of Justice for genocide against Palestinians, Israel has been waging a devastating war on Gaza since October 7.

 According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health,  42,010 Palestinians have been killed, and 97,720 wounded in Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza starting on October 7, 2023.

Moreover, at least 11,000 people are unaccounted for, presumed dead under the rubble of their homes throughout the Strip.

Israel says that 1,200 soldiers and civilians were killed during the Al-Aqsa Flood Operation on October 7. Israeli media published reports suggesting that many Israelis were killed on that day by ‘friendly fire’.

LIVE BLOG: Jabaliya under Siege | Ship Hit near Hodeidah | Israeli Soldiers Killed in Lebanon, Gaza – Day 370

Palestinian and international organizations say that the majority of those killed and wounded are women and children.

The Israeli war has resulted in an acute famine, mostly in northern Gaza, resulting in the death of many Palestinians, mostly children.

The Israeli aggression has also resulted in the forceful displacement of nearly two million people from all over the Gaza Strip, with the vast majority of the displaced forced into the densely crowded southern city of Rafah near the border with Egypt – in what has become Palestine’s largest mass exodus since the 1948 Nakba.

Later in the war, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians began moving from the south to central Gaza in a constant search for safety. 

(Al-Mayadeen, PC)

Israel continued to carry out massacres in Gaza. (Photo: via @AlMezanCenter TW Page)

By Palestine Chronicle Staff  

Israeli occupation forces continue to besiege the Jabaliya refugee camp in northern Gaza for the sixth consecutive day. 

The Israeli army admitted to the killing of an officer at the border with Lebanon while the Al-Quds Brigades announced the sniping of a soldier in the Al-Tawam area, northwest of Gaza City.

The UKMTO reported that a ship had been hit by a projectile of unknown origin off the coast of Hodeidah, in Yemen.

According to the Palestinian Health Ministry (Gaza), 42,010 Palestinians have been killed, and 97,720 wounded in Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza starting on October 7, 2023.

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Hezbollah released the Hudhud episode 3 video. (Photo: video grab)

By Palestine Chronicle Staff  

The sites include the Ramat David military Airbase, various targets in the Haifa-Carmel area, the Kiryat Nahum industrial zone, the Haifa Oil refineries, and others.

Hezbollah’s latest video entitled ‘Hudhud episode three’ was released on Wednesday. The video shows various strategic sites in Haifa, asserting Hezbollah’s ability to strike them at will. 

The images were captured by the Hudhud drone, which Hezbollah has been utilizing to photograph sensitive locations inside Israel.

The sites include the Ramat David military Airbase, various targets in the Haifa-Carmel area, the Kiryat Nahum industrial zone, the Haifa Oil refineries, the Kiryat Ata industrial zone and the Nesher factories for building materials.

Other military bases include the Mishar Base, a main communications hub between the Northern Command and the Israeli Ministry of War; the Mishmar HaCarmel Base, an air defense base responsible for protecting the Haifa area and its surroundings; the Kiryat Eliezer Base, the main air defense base responsible for protecting the Haifa area; the Stella Maris Basse, a strategic base for naval monitoring and surveillance along the northern coast.

Other sites include Iron Dome radars and platforms, along with commander rooms and soldier positions. 

More sensitive targets are the University of Haifa, including a military communications hub located on the roof of the university building; the Grand Canyon shopping mall complex; the central tunnel junction in Mount Carmel, which is reportedly used as fortified hospitals during times of war; and finally the Bnei Zion Hospital.  

Meanwhile, Hezbollah continued to repel Israeli infiltration attempts at the border with Lebanon for the fifth consecutive day. 

Below are the latest statements by the two main Resistance forces in Gaza, and the Lebanese Resistance Movement Hezbollah. 

The statements were communicated via their Telegram channels and are published here in their original form. 

Al-Qassam Brigades

“Al-Qassam Brigades target a zionist Merkava-4 tank with an Al-Yassin 105 shell in the Al-Isra neighborhood, west of Jabalia Camp in the northern Gaza Strip.

“Al-Qassam fighters successfully detonated an anti-personnel Ra’adiya explosive device on a zionist force while it was attempting to rig a house with explosives and deploy an explosive robot. As soon as a reinforcement force advanced to the location, a Merkava 4 tank was targeted with a Yassin 105 shell near the Safatawi junction, west of Jabalia camp in the northern Gaza Strip.

“WATCH: Targeting a Merkava-4 zionist tank as part of a tight ambush near the Saftawi junction west of Jabalia camp in the northern Strip.”

In this video, Al-Qassam Brigades fighters are seen targeting a Merkava-4 tank as part of a tight ambush near the Saftawi junction west of Jabaliya camp in the northern Gaza Strip. pic.twitter.com/ZVq16G8Omv

— The Palestine Chronicle (@PalestineChron) October 9, 2024

Al-Quds Brigades 

“We bombed the Netiv HaAsara settlement in the Gaza envelope with a number of rockets.

“We shot down three zionist drones while they were carrying out intelligence missions in the skies of Khan Younis.”

Hezbollah

“The fighters of the Islamic Resistance, at 12:15 AM on Wednesday, 09-10-2024, detonated an explosive device against a force of Israeli enemy soldiers and clashed with them when they attempted to infiltrate the town of Blida, inflicting precise injuries.

“The fighters of the Islamic Resistance, at 4:55 in the morning of Wednesday 09-10-2024, targeted it with artillery shells and rocket weapons and inflicted direct casualties, leading to its retreat.

“When an Israeli enemy force attempted to advance towards the Labouneh area, the fighters of the Islamic Resistance, at 9:00 AM in the morning of Wednesday 09-10-2024, targeted a gathering of Israeli enemy soldiers south of Maroun al-Ras with a rocket barrage.

“The fighters of the Islamic Resistance at 12:40 pm on Wednesday 09-10-2024, targeted the forces of the Israeli enemy soldiers while they were advancing from the Tufa plain towards Mays Al-Jabal and Muhaibib with a rocket barrage.

“The fighters of the Islamic Resistance at 12:20 pm on Wednesday 09-10-2024, targeted an Israeli infantry force that tried to advance towards the Labouneh area with a guided missile, killing and wounding them.

“The fighters of the Islamic Resistance at 07:00 am on Wednesday 09-10-2024, targeted an Israeli infantry force that tried to infiltrate the Labouneh area with a large missile barrage, killing and wounding them.

“The fighters of the Islamic Resistance, at 1:10 PM on Wednesday 09-10-2024, launched a large rocket barrage at the Zevulun area.

A barrage of rockets from southern Lebanon targeted the northern Israeli city of Kiryat Shmona, killing two people, Israeli media reported.https://t.co/JwLbeXCa7p pic.twitter.com/praWYnUSNU

— The Palestine Chronicle (@PalestineChron) October 9, 2024

“The fighters of the Islamic Resistance at 1:30 PM on Wednesday 09-10-2024, targeted them with rocket weapons and artillery shells, and the clashes are still ongoing.

“The fighters of the Islamic Resistance at 02:00 pm on Wednesday 09-10-2024, targeted a gathering of Israeli enemy forces in the Kiryat Shmona settlement with a rocket barrage.

“The fighters of the Islamic Resistance at 02:00 pm on Wednesday 09-10-2024, targeted a gathering of the Israeli enemy forces in the Kafr Jaladi settlement with a rocket barrage.

“The fighters of the Islamic Resistance at 02:00 pm on Wednesday 09-10-2024, targeted a gathering of Israeli enemy forces in Maskaf Am with artillery shells.

“The fighters of the Islamic Resistance at 02:40 in the afternoon of Wednesday 09-10-2024, targeted a gathering of Israeli enemy forces in the orchards of Al-Manara with a rocket barrage.

“The fighters of the Islamic Resistance at 02:40 in the afternoon of Wednesday 09-10-2024, targeted a gathering of the Israeli enemy forces in the vineyards of Al-Marah in Mays Al-Jabal with artillery shells.

“The fighters of the Islamic Resistance at 3:15 PM on Wednesday 09-10-2024, targeted them with a barrage of rockets, achieving direct hits. 

“The fighters of the Islamic Resistance at 3:15 PM on Wednesday 09-10-2024, targeted a gathering of Israeli enemy forces in the Kfar Giladi settlement with a large barrage of rockets.

“The fighters of the Islamic Resistance targeted a gathering of Israeli enemy forces on the Al-Qalaa Heights in Blida with a rocket barrage.  

Hezbollah published a video as part of the series called Al-Hudhud.

The video includes images of military bases, communications centers, and vital sites in Haifa and Karmiel. pic.twitter.com/RLZjeinORb

— The Palestine Chronicle (@PalestineChron) October 9, 2024

“The fighters of the Islamic Resistance targeted a gathering of Israeli enemy forces behind the town of Maroun Al-Ras with a rocket barrage.  

“The fighters of the Islamic Resistance targeted a gathering of Israeli enemy forces in the occupied city of Safad with a large rocket barrage.  

“The fighters of the Islamic Resistance targeted a gathering of Israeli enemy forces in Hatzor settlement with a large rocket barrage. 

“The fighters of the Islamic Resistance targeted the Ra’em military base south of the Golan with a large rocket barrage. 

“During an infiltration attempt by Israeli enemy forces in Ras Al-Naqoura toward Al-Mushrifa, the fighters of the Islamic Resistance at 5:35 PM on Wednesday 09-10-2024, targeted them with an [FPV] attack drone, achieving direct hits.

“Hezbollah releases episode 3 of the Hudhud (Hoopoe), showing scenes of military bases, headquarters and vital facilities in the Haifa-Carmel area captured by the drones of the resistance”.

(The Palestine Chronicle)

Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova. (Photo: Kremlin, via Wikimedia Commons)

By Palestine Chronicle Staff  

Maria Zakharova also accused the West, in particular the US and Britain, of fueling conflict in the Middle East.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has said that Hezbollah has not lost its chain of command despite Israeli attacks on Lebanon.

“According to our assessments, Hezbollah, including the military wing, has not lost its chain of command and is demonstrating organization,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, told reporters on Wednesday.

#MariaZakharova called "Israel's" aggressions on sovereign nations an "outrageous routine practice" in #Gaza, #Lebanon, and #Syria. https://t.co/38p61PE6u9

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) October 9, 2024

She also accused the West, in particular the US and Britain, of fueling conflict in the Middle East, and demonstrating hypocrisy through its support for Israel, Reuters reported.

Zakharova also condemned Israel for having “grossly violated the sovereignty of Syria by launching a missile attack on a multi-storey apartment building in a densely populated area of Damascus.”

‘Routine’ Attacks

The attack on Tuesday killed nine civilians, including women and children, and injured fourteen others, according to the Syrian Defense Ministry cited by the Al-Mayadeen news agency.

“It is outrageous that such actions have literally turned into a routine practice applied to Syria, Lebanon, and the Gaza Strip,” Zakharova said.

Israel Bombing of Residential Building in Damascus Kills 7, Injures 11 – Second Attack in a Week

The latest aggression comes a week after Israeli airstrikes, which also targeted the Mazzeh neighborhood, killed three people, including Syrian journalist Safaa Ahmad, and injured nine others.

The spokeswoman said it showed Israel’s “desire to further expand the geography of armed escalation in the region.”

‘Silence’ over Journalists’ Killing

She also criticized the West and international organizations for their lack of response to the deaths of journalists covering conflicts, reported the Anadolu news agency.

The killings of reporters is “an unprecedented tragedy in terms of the number of journalists murdered while performing their professional duties,” Zakharova said.

Using the Gaza Playbook in Lebanon – How Words Can Justify a Genocide

“Moreover, all of this is met with silence — not just a lack of action, but not even a statement — from relevant institutions. UNESCO, in particular, is shamefully silent, as if its Director-General Audrey Azoulay has nothing to say on the matter,” she reportedly emphasized.

Zakharova added that the “situation for journalists’ safety in areas like the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and other regional clashes is catastrophic.”

Staggering Death Toll

According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health,  42,010 Palestinians have been killed, and 97,720 wounded in Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza starting on October 7, 2023.

Moreover, at least 11,000 people are unaccounted for, presumed dead under the rubble of their homes throughout the Strip.

More than 170 journalists are among those killed.

Since the start of the Israeli war on Gaza, on October 7, Hezbollah has engaged directly, but relatively in a limited way in the war against the Israeli occupation.

Israel’s attacks on Lebanon have killed more than 2,100 people since October 7 most of them in the past two weeks.

(PC, MEMO, Anadolu, Al-Mayadeen)

Israeli helicopters rescue dead and wounded soldiers at the Israeli-Lebanese border. (Photo: video grab)

By Palestine Chronicle Staff  

“It is now clear that continuing the war in Gaza does not only delay the hostages’ return from captivity, but also endangers their lives.”

More than 100 Israeli soldiers have threatened to stop serving in the army unless the government works to secure a ceasefire and the release of captives in Gaza.

Signatories of the letter, which was signed by 130 soldiers and addressed to Israeli Cabinet ministers and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) chief of staff, included reservists and draftees from various military units, such as the Armored Corps, Artillery Corps, Home Front Command, air force, and navy.

‘Immediately Change Course’

“It is now clear that continuing the war in Gaza does not only delay the hostages’ return from captivity but also endangers their lives: Many hostages have been killed by IDF strikes, many more than those who have been rescued in military operations to save them,” the letter read, according to a Haaretz report on Wednesday.

It continued: “We, who serve and have served with dedication and while risking are lives, hereby announce that if the government does not immediately change course and work toward a deal to bring the hostages back home, we will not be able to continue serving.

The soldiers added, “For some of us, the red line has been crossed already; for others, it is rapidly approaching: the day is approaching when we will, with broken hearts, stop reporting for duty.”

‘Reduction’ in Capabilities

Meanwhile, Israeli media outlets have revealed that while Israel has been talking for weeks about a systematic “reduction” of the Hezbollah movement’s capabilities, the army is not talking about the extent of the “reduction” in its own capabilities over the past year of war against the Palestinians in Gaza, as well as the daily exchanges of fire with Hezbollah in the north, the Middle East Monitor (MEMO) reported on Wednesday.

Israeli Soldier Killed, Two Injured in Fighting with Hezbollah – Israel Intensifies Airstikes

Writing in the Israeli economic newspaper Calcalist, military affairs expert Yuval Azoulay explained that the assassination of Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah has put Israel as close as can be to a comprehensive war with an exhausted Israeli army after the longest continuous war in its history.

Azoulay’s report confirmed that in the past year, the army lost more than 700 soldiers in Gaza, with an unprecedented number wounded to varying degrees, said MEMO. The latter is estimated to be as many as 11,000 combat troops.

He pointed out that according to the rehabilitation department in the Israeli Ministry of Defence, the number of wounded soldiers increases every month by about 1,000.

‘12 Battalions’ Affected

This is the largest number of wounded that the Israeli army has ever known, with the equivalent of 12 battalions taken out of action.

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Both the regular forces and reserves who will fight on the northern front — which is considered more difficult, larger, more complex and more challenging — are exhausted from the endless war in Gaza, said Azoulay.

He accused the political echelon in Tel Aviv of being responsible for this situation, as it was unable to manage any strategy for its actions in Gaza, while clearly ignoring the war of attrition in the north that has lasted for many long months, the report added.

(PC, MEMO)

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his Saudi conterpart Faisal bin Farhan. (Photo: @IRIMFA_SPOX Tw page)

By Palestine Chronicle Staff  

“They stressed that war on Gaza and Lebanon must stop and humanitarian assistance must be allowed to be provided to refugees and displaced persons immediately.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has met with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, to discuss bilateral relations and regional issues, including the situation in Gaza and Lebanon.

The two “held useful and constructive talks on latest developments in the region & situation in Gaza and Lebanon,” the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, stated on X, along with a photo of the two officials, on Wednesday.

FM Seyed Abbas @araghchi and Saudi FM Amir @FaisalbinFarhan held useful and constructive talks on latest developments in the region & situation in #Gaza and #Lebanon. They stressed that war on Gaza and Lebanon must stop and humanitarian assistance must be allowed to be provided… pic.twitter.com/80z4U9pzjQ

— Esmaeil Baghaei (@IRIMFA_SPOX) October 9, 2024

“They stressed that war on Gaza and Lebanon must stop and humanitarian assistance must be allowed to be provided to refugees and displaced persons immediately,” Baghaei said.

He added that the ministers “also reviewed the latest status of bilateral relations and reaffirmed their shared determination to continue improving relations in political, security and economic areas.”

‘Carnage Must Be Stopped’

Ahead of the trip, Baghaei said Iran was “determined keep consolidating its relations with its neighbours in pursuit of sustainable security & stability as well as economic cooperation that would benefit all nations of the region.”

“Carnage and aggression must be stopped,” he stressed.

Iran FM Abbas Araghchi received an official welcome in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/APvSODcE5A

— IRNA News Agency (@IrnaEnglish) October 9, 2024

Aragchi’s trip to Saudi follows talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on October 5 and a visit to Beirut the day before.

He described his talks with Assad on “bilateral & regional issues” as “timely.”

“Highlighted that Iran will stand with Resistance in any situation. Also made clear that response to any aggression by Israeli regime will be stronger-and they can put our determination to the test,” he said on X.

Aragchi also accompanied Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on an “important engagement” to Doha to meet with the Qatari Emir Tamim al-Thani.

‘Self-Defense’ Attack

The regional visits follow Iran’s ballistic missile attack on Israel on October 1, striking dozens of targets.

Iran Ready to Confront Netanyahu, Regional Threats – IRGC Navy Commander

“We exercised self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter, targeting solely military & security sites in charge of genocide in Gaza and Lebanon,” Aragchi said in a post on X, adding that Iran did so “after exercising tremendous restraint for almost two months, to give space for a ceasefire in Gaza.

“Our action is concluded unless Israeli regime decides to invite further retaliation. In that scenario, our response will be stronger and more powerful.”

Israeli Threats

Israeli officials have urged Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to attack Iran’s oil and nuclear sites in retaliation.

‘Once-In-a-Generation Opportunity’ – Israeli Officials Urge Strikes on Iran’s Oil and Nuclear Sites

Araghchi on Tuesday vowed a “crushing response” to any Israeli attacks against his country.

“We advise the Zionist regime (Israel) not to test Iran’s will,” he said at an event in Tehran attended by the ambassadors of Iraq, Yemen, Lebanon, and Syria, the Anadolu news agency reported.

“Any attack on Iran will be met with a crushing response,” he warned.

(The Palestine Chronicle)

Itamar Ben-Gvir visits the Nafha prison. (Photo: Ben-Gvir TW Page)

By Palestine Chronicle Staff  

“They are a visual confirmation of the tragic conditions our prisoners endure inside these prisons.”

Hamas has condemned “shocking scenes” of Palestinian detainees being rounded up and assaulted at the Ofer prison under the direct supervision of Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, saying it reveals “the true criminal face of this Nazi occupier.”

“They are a visual confirmation of the tragic conditions our prisoners endure inside these prisons,” the movement said in a statement on Wednesday.

Shocking footage from Ofer Prison shows Israeli soldiers abusing and torturing Palestinian prisoners under the supervision of far-right Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. pic.twitter.com/2ORt7XsVoW

— The Palestine Chronicle (@PalestineChron) October 9, 2024

“What our prisoners are subjected to, including oppression, abuse, deprivation, and medical neglect—up to the announcement of their martyrdom—constitutes war crimes and clear violations of all conventions and laws concerning prisoners of war. These actions demonstrate how this occupation shirks any ethics or human values,” the statement added.

‘Zero Tolerance’

The pre-dawn raid on the prison on Monday saw police officers using stun grenades and dogs. In the footage shared by Ben-Gvir on X, detainees are seen handcuffed, and being violently moved around inside the prison, and several are seen laying face down on the ground with their hands tied behind their backs.

“With zero tolerance and a heavy hand – this is how the prison fighters work with the animals of prey from the Nohba terrorists. I back them up!” Ben-Gvir said alongside the footage.

He claimed detainees whom he called “human scum” were “planning to riot inside the prison to mark the anniversary” of the October 7 resistance operation.

‘Escalating Abuse’

Hamas said the “escalating abuse of prisoners, depriving them of their rights, and the continued aggressive policies against them will not break their resolve and iron will.”

“The darkness of the prison will soon give way to the dawn of freedom. Our people and resistance remain loyal to the brave prisoners, no matter the cost,” the movement added.

השתתפתי אתמול בשעה חמש בבוקר יחד עם נציב שב"ס קובי יעקובי בפשיטה של לוחמי הכליאה על תאי מחבלים, חלקם מחבלי הנוח׳בה שתכננו לבצע מהומות בתוככי הכלא לציון יום השנה לטבח השבעה באוקטובר.

לפגוש את הרוע בעיניים, זה מחזה קשה אך נותן מעט אור, כאשר רואים את אותם חלאות האדם, שטבחו באחינו… pic.twitter.com/7JOm1MXCaj

— איתמר בן גביר (@itamarbengvir) October 8, 2024

Hamas called on “the free world, human rights organizations, and international bodies to expose the crimes of this Nazi terrorist enemy against our prisoners and to file lawsuits against its murderous criminal leaders for these horrific violations, which are occurring in full view of the world.”

The movement also called on the families of the prisoners, and “all our people” in the West Bank, “to intensify their support for the heroic prisoners, using every means available and in all fields, to aid and champion their cause.”

Documentation of Torture

Various international and Palestinian human rights organizations have documented the abuse and torture of detainees inside Israeli prisons, including arbitrary violence; sexual assault; humiliation and degradation, deliberate starvation; forced unhygienic conditions; and sleep deprivation.

According to the Israeli B’Tselem rights group, “no less than 60” Palestinian detainees have died in Israeli custody.

•⁠ ⁠Israeli soldiers try to hide their act with shields
•⁠ ⁠Hours later, detainee taken to hospital, bleeding
•⁠ ⁠Clinical decision confirmed injury caused by insertion of object

Israeli soldiers at Sde Teiman prison committing rape against blindfolded Palestinian… pic.twitter.com/jsT5V9JsM3

— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) August 7, 2024

In a report titled ‘Welcome to Hell’, the organization documented “a systemic, institutional policy focused on the continual abuse and torture of all Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.”

In July, a leaked video showed Israeli soldiers sexually assaulting a Palestinian detainee from Gaza in the notorious Sde Teiman Israeli detention center. The detainee subsequently died of his injuries.

In April the UN Relief Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) documented the release of 1,506 detainees from Gaza by Israeli authorities through the Karem Abu Salem (Kerem

Shalom) crossing point with Israel. This included 43 children (39 boys, four girls) and 84 women.

Sexual Violence

“Both men and women reported threats and incidents that may amount to sexual violence and harassment” by the Israeli forces while in detention.

“Male victims reported beatings to their genitals, while one detainee reported being made to sit on an electrical probe.”

Gaza Detainees Injected with Unknown Substance as Torture Escalates – Euro-Med Monitor

“The ill-treatment and abuse against UNRWA staff members as relayed by staff members themselves included severe physical beatings and treatment akin to waterboarding, resulting in extreme physical suffering; beatings by doctors when referred for medical assistance; exposure to and being attacked by dogs; threats of rape and electrocution; threats of violence with guns pointed at them; verbal and psychological abuse; threats of murder, injury or harm to family members; humiliating and degrading treatment; being forced to strip naked and being photographed while they are undressed; and being forced to hold stress positions.”

The Israeli army has arrested thousands of Palestinians from different areas across the Gaza Strip. However, Israeli authorities refuse to give an exact number of arrests.

(The Palestine Chronicle)

UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation in Palestine Francesca Albanese. (Image: Palestine Chronicle, via UN website)

By Palestine Chronicle Staff  

The UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese criticized world powers for interfering in internal Palestinian governance.

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories Francesca Albanese said on Tuesday that Palestinian sovereignty is independent of international recognition, urging world leaders to focus on self-determination rather than meddle in Palestinian internal affairs.

“Palestinian sovereignty exists regardless of recognition by other states. Promoting a #TwoStateSolution (for 30yrs) without recognizing both states is disingenuous,” Albanese wrote in a post on X.

The UN special rapporteur criticized world powers for interfering in internal Palestinian governance and urged them to shift their attention to ending the occupation and ensuring the self-determination of Palestinians.

Francesca Albanese @FranceskAlbs has had enough of the @BBC WORLD'S moronic interviewers when a genocide is being committed! pic.twitter.com/1DF9xT87rE

— Rania (@umyaznemo) January 23, 2024

“States’ int’l obligations are not about “reforming the PA” or meddling in Palestinian elections & governance – those are internal matters – but about ensuring peoples’ #selfdetermination, ending unlawful occupations, and dismantling #apartheid,” Albanese wrote.

The UN rapporteur urged world powers to “move beyond hypocrisy & commit to genuine peace premised upon justice and everyone’s freedom.”

“Together, we can do it, she concluded by saying.

Albanese’s remarks came while sharing a report by Anadolu news agency that featured an interview with the former Greek foreign minister, in which he pleaded with world leaders to stop the hypocrisy, pledge real efforts to achieve peace on the basis of justice and universal freedom for all, Anadolu said.

‘With Horror’

Throughout the Israeli genocide on Gaza, Francesca Albanese has been one of the vocal voices on the violations Israel is committing in the Strip.   

The UN rapporteur warned on September 6 “with horror” that if Israel’s military assault on Gaza is not stopped, it “could end up exterminating almost the entire population” of the enclave “over the next couple of years.”

Citing a recent report by The Guardian, Albanese said: “The range of presumable direct and indirect deaths could be between 15 and 20% of the population already by the end of this year, according to Prof. @devisridhar (and that’s in line with the work of other academics).”

Palestinian sovereignty exists regardless of recognition by other states.
Promoting a #TwoStateSolution (for 30yrs) without recognizing both states is disingenuous. States' int'l obligations are not about "reforming the PA" or meddling in Palestinian elections & governance—… https://t.co/o1b6zFpbpo

— Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur oPt (@FranceskAlbs) October 8, 2024

“Once the dust settles, I can’t imagine how the world will go on after having allowed that. Again,” Albanese added in her post on X on September 6.

Gaza Genocide Continues

Flouting a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire, Israel has faced international condemnation amid its continued brutal offensive on Gaza.

Currently on trial before the International Court of Justice for genocide against Palestinians, Israel has been waging a devastating war on Gaza since October 7.

 According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health,  42,010 Palestinians have been killed, and 97,720 wounded in Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza starting on October 7, 2023.

Moreover, at least 11,000 people are unaccounted for, presumed dead under the rubble of their homes throughout the Strip.

Israel says that 1,200 soldiers and civilians were killed during the Al-Aqsa Flood Operation on October 7. Israeli media published reports suggesting that many Israelis were killed on that day by ‘friendly fire’.

Northern Gaza under Siege – Israel Issues Fresh Evacuation Orders for Three Hospitals

Palestinian and international organizations say that the majority of those killed and wounded are women and children.

The Israeli war has resulted in an acute famine, mostly in northern Gaza, resulting in the death of many Palestinians, mostly children.

The Israeli aggression has also resulted in the forceful displacement of nearly two million people from all over the Gaza Strip, with the vast majority of the displaced forced into the densely crowded southern city of Rafah near the border with Egypt – in what has become Palestine’s largest mass exodus since the 1948 Nakba.

Later in the war, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians began moving from the south to central Gaza in a constant search for safety. 

(PC, Anadolu)