Israel’s assault on Gaza began on October 7, in response to an attack by armed fighters from the Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas and other Palestinian groups. Some 1,140 people died during the attack and about 240 were taken into Gaza as captives.
In retaliation, Israel began a vicious bombing campaign and tightened what was already a crushing siege that Gaza has been under since 2007.
As reported by Relifweb, it’s been 100 days since the devastating war started, killing and displacing people in Gaza, following the horrific attacks that Hamas and other groups carried out against people in Israel. It’s been 100 days of ordeal and anxiety for hostages and their families.
In the past 100 days, sustained bombardment across the Gaza Strip caused the mass displacement of a population that is in a state of flux - constantly uprooted and forced to leave overnight, only to move to places which are just as unsafe.
This has been the largest displacement of the Palestinian people since 1948. This war affected more than 2 million people - the entire population of Gaza.
Many will carry lifelong scars, both physical and psychological. The vast majority, including children, are deeply traumatized.
Overcrowded and unsanitary UNRWA shelters have now become “home” to more than 1.4 million people. They lack everything, from food to hygiene to privacy. People live in inhumane conditions, where diseases are spreading, including among children. They live through the unliveable, with the clock ticking fast towards famine.
The plight of children in Gaza is especially heartbreaking. An entire generation of children is traumatized and will take years to heal. Thousands have been killed, maimed, and orphaned. Hundreds of thousands are deprived of education. Their future is in jeopardy, with far-reaching and long-lasting consequences.
According to RelifWeb, International Humanitarian Law, put in place to protect civilians and regulate the conduct of hostilities, is regularly flouted. Civilians and civilian infrastructure, including hospitals and UNRWA shelters, were hit over the last three months, killing hundreds of civilians and injuring thousands.
UNRWA installations should be protected at all times and provide the protection civilians are seeking. They should never be used for military purposes by any party.
Despite repeated calls, a humanitarian ceasefire is still not in place to stop the killing of people in Gaza and enable the safe delivery of food, medicine, water and shelter. Moreover, the onset of winter makes life even more unbearable, especially for those living out in the open.
Aj-jazeera, at the 100-day mark since the beginning of the conflict, reports some figures that give us an overview of the extent of the war and its repercussions.
- 23,968 people have been killed including 9,600 children and 6,750 women
- 60,582 people have been injured including 8,663 children and 6,327 women
- 100 journalists and media workers have been killed
- 359,00 housing units have been damaged or destroyed
- 9 million people have been internally displaced
- 635,00 students are out of school with 7 out of 10 schools having been damaged in Israeli attacks
- 15 out of 36 hospitals in Gaza are partially functional
- 5,500 women are due to give birth within the next few weeks; more than 180 babies are born every day
- 2 million people are suffering crisis levels of food insecurity; 9 out 10 people go 24 hours or more without food
To learn more, read:
https://www.aljazeera.com/features/longform/2024/1/14/israels-100-days-of-relentless-war-on-gaza
