Gaza’s sole power plant ceased operations on Wednesday due to a critical fuel shortage, exacerbated by Israel’s total blockade following an attack by Hamas. The power plant shutdown has raised concerns about a humanitarian catastrophe in the enclave.
Israel’s Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, has threatened to launch a ground offensive in Gaza in response to the surprise attack by Hamas.
Due to the complete blockade imposed by Israeli authorities on the besieged territory, the Gaza Strip is at risk of being plunged into darkness “within hours” due to the lack of fuel for the power plant.
Accusations have emerged of Israel using white phosphorus bombs against civilians in Gaza’s Karama neighborhood. Tel Aviv has vowed to escalate its response to Hamas’s attack with a ground offensive.
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry stated, “The Israeli occupation is using internationally banned white phosphorus bombs against the Palestinians in the Karama neighborhood in northern Gaza.”
Rami Abdo, founder of the European Observatory for Human Rights, shared a video clip showing Israel’s alleged use of phosphorus bombs. The use of white phosphorus to generate a smokescreen is legally accepted, but its use in densely populated areas is prohibited by the 1980 Geneva Convention.
Israel has not yet commented on the allegations.
The Israeli military conducted airstrikes on a neighborhood in Gaza City, targeting over 200 locations that Hamas had allegedly used to launch attacks. Gaza’s health ministry reported over 900 casualties, including deaths and injuries.
Hamas’s attack in southern Israel resulted in numerous casualties, making it the deadliest Palestinian attack in Israel’s history. According to Israeli public broadcaster Kan, the weekend death toll reached 1,200, with the majority of victims being civilians. Some individuals were captured and taken to Gaza as hostages.
The Gaza Strip is on the verge of a humanitarian catastrophe as the power plant shutdown, coupled with the ongoing aggression, intensifies the crisis. The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, warned that the situation in Gaza was already dire and would worsen significantly due to the hostilities.
Human Rights Watch criticized Israel’s blockade as a form of “collective punishment” and a “war crime.” The World Food Programme expressed concerns about food stocks and the risk of food spoilage due to electricity cuts.
Over 260,000 people have been displaced in Gaza due to the heavy Israeli bombardments from air, land, and sea, with the number expected to rise further. Many homes have been destroyed or rendered uninhabitable –With input from AFP, Reuters
