Israel's Looming Offensive: Unveiling Gaza's Dire Catastrophe
Conditions in Gaza have plunged into an unprecedented catastrophe as Palestinians endure severe shortages of clean water and food With tens of thousands fleeing airstrikes and an imminent Israeli ground offensive, the situation demands immediate attention
Conditions in Gaza have worsened to the point of being a "total catastrophe," as stated by an official. There is a severe lack of clean water and food, while tens of thousands of Palestinians are desperately trying to escape intense airstrikes and the imminent Israeli invasion.
The Israeli military announced on Saturday that it is preparing for the next phase of the conflict, which will involve "simultaneous and coordinated attacks from air, sea, and land." This response is prompted by the unprecedented terrorist attacks on October 7, carried out by the Islamist militant group Hamas, who currently governs the area.
Over 1,300 individuals lost their lives during the violent acts carried out by Hamas, leading US President Joe Biden to characterize it as "the most devastating slaughter of Jewish individuals since the Holocaust."
The ongoing conflict has entered a more dangerous phase, posing a greater risk of regional instability. In response, the Pentagon has taken measures to prevent further escalation by deploying a second carrier strike group and fighter jet squadrons to the area. This serves as a deterrent not only to Iran but also to Iranian groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Residents in Gaza are facing a race against time as they flee south through the war-torn streets. The Israeli military has issued a directive for civilians in the northern region, which is densely populated, to evacuate. With over half of Gaza's 2 million residents residing in this area, numerous families, including those who were already internally displaced, are now forced to squeeze into an even smaller part of the 140-square-mile territory.
Civilians crowded into various modes of transportation, including cars, taxis, pickup trucks, and carts pulled by donkeys. The roads were congested with long lines of vehicles loaded with suitcases and mattresses. Those who had no alternative means walked, carrying whatever belongings they could.
Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), emphasized the importance of civilian evacuation before significant military operations begin. In an interview with CNN on Sunday, he urged Gazans to leave without delay.
People at the site of an Israeli rocket attack in Al- Shati refugee camp in the west of Gaza City on October 14.
Israeli airstrikes on Gaza persisted over the weekend, despite an influx of civilians fleeing the region. Footage captured the gruesome aftermath of the bombings and the hasty evacuation of tens of thousands of individuals from their residences based on recommendations by the IDF.
Videos verified by CNN show a significant amount of damage on Salah Al-Deen street, a major evacuation route. On a flat-bed trailer, which seems to have been utilized for transporting people out of Gaza City, several bodies, including those of children, can be observed. The Palestinian Health Ministry has reported that 2,329 civilians have lost their lives and over 9,000 have been injured since the beginning of the conflict one week ago, with an additional 300 fatalities in the past 24 hours.
Richard Brennan, a World Health Organization official in Cairo, told CNN that 60 percent of those killed in Gaza the last week were women and children.
Palestinians are scouring through the debris, looking for victims in the aftermath of Israeli airstrikes. This is happening amidst the ongoing Israel-Palestinian conflict, involving the Palestinian Islamist group, Hamas. The incident occurred in Khan Younis, located in the southern Gaza Strip, on October 14th. The photo credit goes to Mohammed Salem/Reuters.
Mass evacuation during a siege has been cautioned by multiple United Nations agencies, as it is deemed as a potential disaster. The most vulnerable individuals in Gaza such as the sick, elderly, pregnant women, and disabled individuals, would be unable to relocate. Israel has recently blocked access to essential resources such as electricity, food, and water for the Gaza population. Executing the implications further, Avril Benoit, the executive director of Doctors Without Borders (MSF), declared that despite Israeli claims of safe havens, the entire territory of Gaza, including the southern region, remains exposed to bombardment.
Israel is being urged by numerous countries, global human rights groups, and organizations to comply with international laws of warfare. They are specifically calling for the protection of civilian lives and the prohibition of targeting hospitals, schools, and clinics. The foreign minister of Jordan has warned that Israel's actions in Gaza are not only causing a humanitarian catastrophe but also amount to collective punishment for over 2 million Palestinians.
As the scarcity of food, clean water, and medical supplies in Gaza becomes increasingly dire, urgent pleas for humanitarian assistance are being made. Video footage depicts aid convoys continuing to arrive at Egypt's El-Arish stadium, as they prepare to enter Gaza via the Rafah land crossing. On the Gaza side, thousands of people are stranded at the crossing, with families telling CNN that they have been unable to cross into Egypt.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry told CNN Saturday that Egypt has tried to ship humanitarian aid to Gaza but has not received the proper authorization to do so.
Complete catastrophe in Gaza
Palestinian refugees in the southern regions, as well as those who remain in the northern areas, are facing an imminent scarcity of food and water. The absence of electricity has left those reliant on fuel-powered generators on the brink of living in total darkness. Additionally, the diminishing internet connectivity, crucial for residents to communicate their dire circumstances to the global community, exacerbates the challenges they face.
Benoit from MSF informed CNN on Saturday about the alarming water crisis in Gaza, where a growing number of individuals are now experiencing severe dehydration.
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Everyone in that place feels as if they are bound to become collateral damage," stated Benoit. "The healthcare system in that location has perpetually been exceptionally vulnerable and has long been regarded as a chronic humanitarian emergency; however, now it has transformed into an utter catastrophe."
Palestinians with foreign passports arrive at the Rafah gate hoping to cross into Egypt as Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip continues on October 14..
Said Khatib/AFP/Getty Images
According to Nebal Farsakh, spokesperson for the Palestine Red Crescent Society, the situation in Gaza is "devastating." Although Israel informed them to evacuate Al-Quds hospital in Gaza City, they lack the resources to do so. Farsakh stated that they are unable to evacuate their patients due to the absence of means. With approximately 300 patients in the hospital, including those in the intensive care unit and infants in incubators, evacuation is not possible.
Palestinians who fled their houses amid Israeli strikes shelter at a United Nations-run school in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip on Saturday.
Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters
Streets 'reek of blood:' Gazans run out of time after Israel's evacuation deadline
The repeated orders from Israel to evacuate 22 hospitals in Gaza have been strongly condemned by the World Health Organization. Describing it as a "death sentence for the sick and injured," the WHO emphasizes that if patients are compelled to relocate and are disconnected from vital medical care during the evacuation process, their health condition will deteriorate rapidly, leading to imminent death.
What would a ground invasion look like?
: Health facilities in the northern area of Gaza are currently experiencing a constant flow of injured patients and are facing difficulties in managing the overwhelming demand. These facilities are operating beyond their maximum capacity, resulting in some patients receiving treatment in corridors and outdoor areas, even extending onto surrounding streets due to a severe shortage of hospital beds.Israel has deployed large numbers of troops and military equipment to the Gaza border, declaring that its intensified offensive will involve hundreds of thousands of reservists and various operational offensive strategies. Alongside extensive airstrikes, the Israeli army is readying its troops for an extended battleground, focusing on substantial ground operations.
Hamas has surprised many with its significantly higher military capability than previously believed. Moreover, a recent investigation by CNN has revealed that the organization is likely well-equipped and prepared for the upcoming stage of the war.
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The situation in Gaza is further complicated by the presence of approximately 150 hostages, who have been captured by Hamas. Among the hostages are soldiers, civilians, women, children, and the elderly, all of whom are currently being held in the densely populated enclave.
The top priority for the IDF spokesperson, Conricus, is to secure the release of hostages in Gaza, even though the challenge of operating in a densely populated urban area complicates the situation.
Conricus emphasized that Hamas possesses an extensive underground tunnel system, indicating that the hostages are probably being held in different underground locations.
"Fighting will be slow. Advances will be slow, and we will be cautious," he said.
A picture taken from Sderot shows smoke plumes rising above buildings during an Israeli strike on the northern Gaza Strip on October 14.
Aris Messinis/AFP/Getty Images
Regional concerns grow
As Israel battles Hamas, it also faces the threat of a wider conflict on new fronts.
Israel has stated its preparedness for potential attacks originating from Lebanon or Syria. Late on Saturday, Syria's military reported an incident of "air aggression" by Israel, which emerged from the Mediterranean Sea and caused significant damage to Aleppo International Airport, resulting in its nonoperational status.
Meanwhile, the UN Mission for Iran issued a stern warning on Saturday that failure to halt Israel's assaults on Gaza could lead to an uncontrollable escalation with significant reverberations.
Palestinians, who fled their houses amid Israeli strikes, shelter at a United Nations-run school in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, October 14.
Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters
Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian held a meeting with Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Doha, Qatar on Saturday, as reported by Iran's official news agency, IRNA. This marked the first formal interaction between Iranian officials and Haniyeh since the surprising Hamas attack on Israel, referred to as the "Al-Aqsa storm" by Hamas. The international community is closely watching developments in Lebanon as any escalation could potentially involve the influential Hezbollah paramilitary group, which is backed by Iran.
For an extended period, Palestinian militants residing in Lebanon have been initiating rocket attacks towards Israel, prompting Israel to retaliate by targeting Lebanese territories, specifically Hezbollah strongholds. In response, Hezbollah has actively engaged Israeli border positions by deploying accurately-guided missiles.
In southern Gaza, Palestinian civilians and rescuers collaborate in the arduous task of clearing the debris in the heavily bombarded city center of Khan Yunis. This comes after a night of intense Israeli shelling on October 10, 2023. The image was captured by Said Khatib from AFP/Getty Images.
Result:
How would an Israeli ground assault in Gaza be carried out? Here's my previous observation.
Israel responded with force on Saturday, following an attack by Hezbollah on the disputed Shebaa farms near the border of Israel and Lebanon. CNN's ground teams witnessed an extended period of shelling.
Mourners gathered on Saturday to pay their respects at the funeral of Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah in southern Lebanon. Abdallah lost his life when Israel fired artillery into the area where he and other journalists were present on Friday. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have initiated an investigation into the incident on the Lebanese border.
As a precautionary measure in light of the current regional security situation, the Pentagon has directed the deployment of an additional carrier strike group, the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, to the eastern Mediterranean Sea. This group will join the USS Gerald R. Ford-led strike group.
The presence of two of the most powerful ships in the US Navy is intended to send a message of deterrence to Iran and its proxies in the region, but these warships will not be involved in the fighting in Gaza or participate in Israel's operations. Multiple CNN reporters, including Mariya Knight, Kareem Khadder, Artemis Moshtaghian, Adam Pourahmadi, Sarah El Sirgany, Tamara Qiblawi, Pauline Lockwood, Eyad Kourdi, Sana Noor Haq, Hande Atay Alam, and Chloe Liu, have contributed to this reporting.
