New martyrs have fallen after the Israeli occupation forces launched several new attacks in violation of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, which included aerial and artillery bombardments and the demolition of buildings, while the Union of Municipalities warned of the serious and rapid deterioration in basic services, especially water, sanitation and waste management services, as a result of the occupation’s continued prevention of the entry of industrial oils and fuel.
Victims of the raids
On the ground, three Palestinians were killed and others wounded when Israeli warplanes bombed an area near the Abu Khadra Mosque in the Rimal neighborhood, west of Gaza City.
A girl was also wounded by Israeli fire in Beit Lahia, in the northern Gaza Strip. Fisherman Mohammed al-Qur'an sustained serious injuries when he was targeted while working on his small boat off the coast of central Gaza. Israeli gunboats also opened fire on the beach area of al-Zawayda, in the central Gaza Strip, coinciding with similar operations by Israeli military vehicles targeting eastern areas of the central Gaza Strip.
A woman was wounded by Israeli fire in the al-Mawasi area, west of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. Israeli artillery targeted several towns east of Khan Younis, amid heavy gunfire. New demolitions of buildings were also reported in areas beyond the "Yellow Line," the demarcation line separating Gaza from Israel.
Israeli forces have recently expanded the "Yellow Line" in several areas of the Gaza Strip, annexing them after forcibly displacing their residents. The land east of the line, now under Israeli control, constitutes more than 60% of the total area of the Gaza Strip.
These violations contravene the ceasefire agreement between the Palestinian resistance factions and Israel, which stipulates a cessation of mutual attacks and came into effect on October 10 of last year, under American, Egyptian, Qatari, and Turkish auspices.
Warnings from Fatah and Hamas
The Gaza Ministry of Health reported yesterday that hospitals in the Gaza Strip received two martyrs and eight wounded individuals in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of casualties since the ceasefire agreement went into effect to 1,007 martyrs and 3,165 wounded, in addition to the recovery of 784 bodies.
The ministry also stated that the total number of martyrs since the start of the war on October 7, 2013, has risen to 73,018, with 173,273 wounded. A number of victims remain trapped under rubble and in the streets, as ambulance and civil defense teams have been unable to reach them.
In this context, Munther al-Hayek, a member of the Revolutionary Council of the Palestinian National Liberation Movement (Fatah), said that the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is deteriorating catastrophically due to the ongoing war and siege. He added that residents are living in tents lacking the most basic necessities, with worsening living conditions, a lack of cash, and dwindling sources of income.
Fatah and Hamas warn of the severity of the humanitarian situation.
He pointed out that the occupation authorities continue to impose geographical changes by expanding military zones and shrinking the spaces available to citizens, leading to overcrowding in narrow areas and exacerbating their humanitarian suffering.
For his part, Hazem Qassem, spokesperson for the Islamic Resistance Movement "Hamas," said, "Gaza continues to bleed, and sorrow and fear still pervade it."
In a post on his Facebook page, he added, "This ongoing loss and relentless death, while those around us watch; everyone is witnessing our slaughter as if we are from another planet." He further criticized the Arab silence, asking, "Where are our people outside Palestine in the face of this tragedy?" He continued, "Where are the embassies and the factional presence in foreign arenas? Where are the scholars of the nation and our religious institutions? Where is our Arab League?" Meanwhile, the occupation authorities continued to impose a tight siege on the Gaza Strip, affecting food, medicine, fuel, and most basic necessities.
Water and sanitation crisis
The Union of Municipalities in the Gaza Strip warned of a serious and rapidly deteriorating situation in basic municipal services, particularly water, sanitation, and waste management, due to the continued ban on the entry of industrial oils, diesel fuel, spare parts, vehicle tires, pumps, and equipment necessary for operating and maintaining vital facilities.
In a statement, the Union reiterated that the industrial oil crisis has become the most serious and urgent threat, as electricity generators, water wells, sewage treatment plants, and municipal vehicles and equipment depend directly on it.The statement added that the depletion of these oils will lead to the shutdown of equipment and facilities, even if limited quantities of diesel fuel become available. The Union
explained that municipalities and water and sanitation facilities need to operate dozens of wells and stations for extended hours daily to provide more than 140,000 cubic meters of water for domestic use and drinking water, while municipalities also pump approximately 60,000 cubic meters of sewage daily into the sea to prevent its accumulation in residential areas. He noted that municipalities continue to collect and transport over 3,000 cubic meters of waste daily from various areas of the Gaza Strip. However, he warned that the ongoing fuel, diesel, and spare parts crisis threatens to completely halt collection and transport operations.
He called for the immediate and urgent entry of industrial oils, diesel, spare parts, vehicle tires, pumps, and all necessary operating and maintenance supplies. He also demanded the immediate and permanent opening of crossings and the guarantee of a free and regular flow of materials and equipment necessary for the continuation of essential services.
The Israeli occupation authorities have included used motor oil on the list of items prohibited from entering the Gaza Strip, despite the need for this oil by generators supplying hospitals, as well as by local authorities for operating water wells, sewage treatment plants, and garbage collection vehicles.
