Fri Nov 22 18:06:51 UTC 2024: ## Gaza Hospitals Face Fuel Crisis as ICC Issues Warrants, Violence Continues

**GAZA CITY/JERUSALEM** – Hospitals in Gaza are on the brink of collapse, with only 48 hours of fuel remaining, the Hamas health ministry warned Friday. This dire situation comes as the UN reported that aid delivery to the war-torn territory is severely hampered by Israeli restrictions and looting. The announcement follows the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) unprecedented issuance of arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes, including starvation as a method of warfare.

The ICC also issued a warrant for Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif, accusing him of war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the October 7, 2023 attack that triggered the current conflict. Netanyahu vehemently rejected the accusations as “absurd and false,” while other world leaders, including Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris, expressed support for the court’s actions. US President Biden called the warrants “outrageous.”

Meanwhile, violence continues to escalate. Israeli security forces reported killing two Hamas commanders in northern Gaza, while an overnight Israeli raid in Beit Lahia and Jabalia resulted in dozens of Palestinian casualties, with many still missing. Gaza’s health ministry claims thousands have been killed in the northern offensive, a figure the UN hasn’t independently verified but states that over 100,000 people have been displaced. The UN’s humanitarian coordinator for the Palestinian territories described the situation as a grinding halt to essential aid, citing Israeli restrictions on commercial imports and increased targeting of aid convoys. The World Health Organization (WHO) also expressed grave concerns about the deteriorating conditions within Gaza’s hospitals.

The conflict extends beyond Gaza. Israel’s recent strikes on Syria, described by the UN as potentially the deadliest in recent times, resulted in casualties reported by a war monitor as high as 92 pro-Iranian fighters in Palmyra. Fighting in Lebanon also continues, with Israel conducting air strikes on Hezbollah positions in south Beirut and south Lebanon, following a rocket attack on a UN peacekeeping position attributed to Hezbollah by Italian officials.

The death toll continues to rise sharply. Gaza’s health ministry reports at least 44,056 deaths in Gaza, the majority civilians. In Lebanon, over 3,580 deaths have been reported, with most occurring since late September. The ongoing conflict continues to cause widespread devastation and suffering across the region, highlighting a desperate humanitarian crisis.

Read More